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University of Florida

New year in sports to deliver joy, excitement, adventure

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As we embark on a new year, the sports world within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area promises to deliver plenty to watch, experience and appreciate.

Here is a sampling of what’s ahead in 2021:

Wesley Chapel’s AdventHealth Center Ice will host the United States Premier Hockey League. (File)

Elite junior hockey at Center Ice
The AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel may best be known for housing the 2017-2018 U.S. women’s national ice hockey team in its historic run to winning an Olympic gold medal.

The 150,500-square-foot facility — the largest ice rink south of New York — also will play host to another prestigious hockey group in 2021.

The United States Premier Hockey League — one of the nation’s top junior-level development programs — announced plans to play a six-weeklong, 20-game schedule across Center Ice’s four sheets of ice, beginning in January.

Using a “Hub City” concept, teams and players throughout the country will lodge at nearby Saddlebrook Resort, in between games and practices at Center Ice.

Some these players will wind up playing collegiate and maybe even professional hockey.

Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills (File)

Zephyrhills tennis center to host pro tournament
The newly opened Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center soon will begin living up to its promise of being a national and international draw.

The multimillion sports complex will host a $25,000 United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit Event from Jan. 25 through Jan. 31.

The competition will feature 32 women’s singles players and 16 doubles teams — which encompasses some of the world’s top pros who are also slated to compete in the Australian Open.

The prestigious tourney is expected to be an annual affair at the facility, at 6585 Simons Road in Zephyrhills.

(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Sports Commission)

Super Bowl LV in Tampa
America’s most-watched sporting event — the Super Bowl — will take center stage at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7.

The community and economic impact to the surrounding area — even amid the COVID-19 pandemic — is sure to spread northwards through Hillsborough and Pasco counties, in the form of hotel stays, restaurant patronage and leisure about town. Several ancillary Super Bowl events and outreach programs have already been scheduled in those areas, too.

Also, don’t be shocked if a former local prep star (or more) is a part of contending teams in the 55th edition of the NFL championship game.

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet hones his shooting at Saint Leo University’s Marion Bowman Activities Center. (File)

Toronto Raptors call Tampa home, temporarily
As if history wasn’t already made with Super Bowl being in Tampa this year, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors are playing at least the first half of its 2020-2021 home slate at Amalie Arena on Channelside.

A limited number of fans are being allowed to the games, so it’s a good opportunity to be a part of a rare occurrence and see some of the sport’s most talented players in the world, not too far from your backyard.

There’s also a further local connection: The Raptors had their two-weeklong preseason training camp at Saint Leo University’s Marion Bowman Activities Center, back in December.

The Bishop McLaughlin varsity boys basketball program may be a state title contender. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School)

Bishop’s ballers
The Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School varsity boys basketball team has quickly established itself as one of the area’s highest-scoring and high-flying squads since beginning its 2020-2021 season in November.

The team features a junior trio of bona fide Division I prospects in 6-foot-4 guard Antonio Davis Jr., 6-foot-7 forward Dillon Mitchell and 6-foot-4 guard Emanuel Sharp, who last year led the state in scoring (31.9 points per game) while at Tampa’s Blake High School. An example of the Hurricanes dominance: They defeated Land O’ Lakes High School 80-34 in an early December contest. The team is coached by former USF and Israel pro standout Derrick Sharp.

With all that talent, perhaps a state title is in the team’s reach come early March? Wait to see.

Florida’s high school spring sports, like track and field, are expected to make their long-awaited returning after being canceled last March amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (File)

Spring can’t come soon enough
The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most, if not all, of last year’s Florida high school spring sports season throughout Florida from March onward, as a matter of health and safety.

The long-awaited return of these athletic events — baseball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track and field, boys volleyball, water polo, boys weightlifting — should yield special (and emotional) moments for countless athletes, fans, coaches and parents alike.

Perhaps a few records will be broken and championships won by locals will occur along the way, too.

Worth noting: The area generates its fair share of the state’s strongest baseball, softball and track and field programs, among others.

Bored? Take a hike
Still suffering from pandemic-induced cabin fever? Perhaps some fresh air and outdoor exercise in a local park or preserve can clear the homebound blues.

Hillsborough County’s Hiking Spree continues through March 31. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

That can be done via Hillsborough County’s fifth annual Hiking Spree, which challenges participants to complete at least eight trail hikes from November through March 31.

The Hiking Spree’s trail list this year features 25 different trails at 20 locations throughout the county.

And, several of those sites fall within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area: Carrollwood Village Neighborhood Park, Peterson Road Park, Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, Lake Rogers Conservation Park, Lake Dan Nature Preserve and Cypress Creek Nature Preserve.

Participants may hike on their own, or in a group setting with friends and family. Some sites have entrance and parking fees. Hikers may repeat any trail twice for credit, as long as the hikes occur on different dates.

Aside from the feeling of accomplishment, those who complete the hiking extravaganza earn their choice of a patch, medallion for a walking stick, or a dog bandana.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High alum (File)

Lutz native again leads Tampa Bay Rays
The new year should again generate another fruitful campaign for Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High School alumnus.

Prospects remain high for a Cash-led club that reached Game 6 of the 2020 World Series and finished with the best record in the American League during a pandemic-delayed and shortened season.

Also, expect to see and hear more of the reigning AL Manager of the Year in the new year, given the MLB is seeking terms resembling pre-pandemic levels, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 130 to 162 regular season games, plus spring training.

However long the 2021 slate, the Rays will be fighting its third-straight playoff berth under the 43-year-old Cash, entering his seventh season as Rays skipper.

Sunlake High School product Tommy Mace is now a standout pitcher at the University of Florida. (File)

Preps to pros
The annual MLB Draft creates an opportunity for boyhood dreams of becoming a professional baseball player to become true.

Each year, about a handful of area high school or college prospects are taken in the draft —offered anywhere from thousands to hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to play America’s greatest pastime.

At least one name to watch in the July event is former Sunlake High School right-handed pitcher Tommy Mace, now a senior at the University of Florida. Various baseball outlets believe the 6-foot-6 Mace has the potential to be a first round pick, which could mean a signing bonus of several million dollars.

In three varsity seasons at Sunlake from 2015 to 2017, Mace posted a 19-6 record, 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts across 165.2 innings pitches. He also guided the Seahawks to the 2017 Class 7A regional finals.

Bay Scallop season in Pasco County runs from July 16 through July 25. (File)

Seeking an outdoor adventure? Try scalloping
Grab a snorkel, a swim mask and some fins because recreational scallop season returns again this summer in Pasco County.

The now annual 10-day bay scallop season in Pasco County is tentatively scheduled from July 16 through July 25. It begins the third Friday in July each year.

The county’s scallop zone encompasses all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

The outdoor family friendly activity of hunting for scallops is often referred to as an underwater Easter egg hunt.

Requiring only basic swimming skills, the idea is to float along the top of the water until you spot scallop shells in Florida seagrass beds lying several feet underwater, then you grab them by hand, or with a landing or dip net.

Pasco is the southernmost county in Florida to offer a scallop season.

Published January 06, 2021

Sunlake XC strides for another banner finish at states

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It’d be understandable if the Sunlake High School varsity cross country program took a slight step back following a banner 2019 campaign that saw its boys team finish fifth and girls team sixth at the Class 3A state championship — the best combined finish that year among schools in all classifications in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Those respective Seahawks’ seniors — many of whom are now running in college — all but carried the program to the banner showing, including:

  • Five of the boys team’s top seven runners were seniors, four of whom are now running on scholarship at in-state Flagler College, Saint Leo University and Southeastern University, respectively.
  • Three of the girls team’s top seven runners were seniors, including decorated and school record-setting Liina Winborn, who finished fourth overall at the 2019 state finals (18:11.16),

and is now on a distance running scholarship at Division I University of Florida.

But, this year’s Seahawks teams may soar to even greater heights, once the season officially crosses the finish line.

The Sunlake High School boys and girls cross-country programs are poised to each have its highest finish at the 3A state finals on Nov. 14 at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee. Each squad swept its conference and district meets. The boys team won regionals, while the girls finished runner-up, respectively. (Courtesy of Randal Reeves)

The boys and girls squads each swept its conference championship and district championships. At regionals on Nov. 7 at Holloway Park in Lakeland, the boys took first place and the girls took runner-up.

With that, both advance to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) 3A state championships on Nov. 14, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Expectations at states are a top three or four finish for the boys, and a top four or five for the girls, respectively.

So, what else separates this team from years past? A valuable combination of depth, dedication, accountability, and some natural talent, of course.

“We lost a lot of seniors last year who went on to run in college,” said Sunlake distance coach Randal Reeves, “but, returning runners from last year just really stepped it up, by putting in all the training over the summer; that’s what made the difference, and all that hard work is just paying off.”

Reeves further praised teammates for having the commitment to show up to practices and workouts each day, and doing what is asked of them, and more.

“These kids are extremely dedicated,” the seventh-year coach said. “You’ve gotta have the right kids involved, and I’m blessed. I do have the right kids.”

The effort level comes from many of the runners’ desires to earn college scholarships and compete at the next level, the coach said.

“Every single one of these kids is looking to run in college,” Reeves said. “They don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to get their training in so that they can perform well, so I think that’s what the difference is with these kids. They all want to get some races in so they can show a recruiter, ‘Hey, look at the times I’ve been running,’ so I think that might be where a lot of the dedication is from.”

The inner drive to succeed elsewhere comes from distance runners having what likely would’ve been a banner track season ripped away from them back in March, as all spring sports were canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic surge.

“I think it’s definitely a lot of build-up from almost having an incomplete season of track,” said junior Caitlyn Culpepper, a team captain.

“I think that motivation definitely carried into our summer training, because I know when I ended the (track) season, I was like, ‘Wow, I have so much more left to give,’ so we just carried that motivation into our summer training, ‘Hey, we’ve gotta work harder. We weren’t able to achieve this goal of state tracks, so let’s put this toward cross-country,’ so I think that drove a lot of us. We were just ready to get out there and start competing again.”

More with less
Other top-level 3A cross-country programs may have anywhere from 50 to 100 runners on their roster.

Sunlake has less than 30 runners combined between the boys and girls teams.

The 3.1-mile state meet course at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee features a mix of hills and flat terrain. The team has prepared for the course in training at Trout Creek Park in Thonotosassa. (Courtesy of Florida High School Athletic Association)

In this case, it’s about quality, not quantity.

Both squads boast eight closely matched runners who are strong enough to register points (finish in the top five for their team in a race).

Each squad’s No. 6 or No. 7 runner may finish as high as No. 4 or No. 5 in a particular meet or race.

It’s one of those good problems to have.

“I have the problem, of my top seven, any one of ‘em would be varsity on any team in the state of Florida. I mean, they’re that good,” Reeves said.

This tight margin among Sunlake runners has created an accountability factor among each other, keeping everyone on their toes and forced to give their best effort in practice and meets.

The girls team, for example, has eight runners who run a 5K (3.1 miles) under 22-minutes, led by senior Shannon Gordy, who’s personal record is 18:53. The boys team has eight runners who can finish under 18 minutes, led by junior Colby Robbins, who captured individual titles at conference, districts and regionals, and whose personal-best 15:56 is two seconds off the school record held by the graduated Gavin Kennedy (15:54.6).

“We’re so close in times, which gives us that awesome pack up in the front,” Culpepper said, “and, you know, we have that accountability for each other, so we’re able to push each other, so that inner competition among each other creates for great competition against other teams.”

The depth means “it could be anybody’s race,” even for those lower-ranked runners, said Gordy. “Those No. 6 and No. 7 runners, they know that we’re strong as a whole and they have a part in the team. They may not score points, but they know they’re important to our team. As the team runs, we run as a group,” she said.

Robbins likewise underscored how the depth — and corresponding camaraderie, he said — has carried the team so far: “If somebody decides to slack off, instead of just saying, ‘Oh, that’s not me, it’s individual sport,’ we’re going to get on them because we care, so I think that’s what sets us apart. We have a degree of responsibility that we uphold for each other, because I’m not going to be the one that holds my team back, because we all care about each other.”

Coach’s impact
Other reasons for the program forming as one of the state’s best is Reeves, who’s earned his fair share of Sunshine Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in cross-country and track.

“He can take anyone and turn them into a great athlete, and if you have natural talent, he can then turn you into world-class,” said Robbins, who entered Sunlake as a soccer player but made the transition to distance running freshman year, and is now among the state’s best runners in Class 3A.

The Sunlake cross-country program is among the state’s top-ranked teams entering the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A state championships. The boys and girls teams compete on Nov. 14 at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee. (Courtesy of Florida High School Athletic Association)

“Even though we don’t have the biggest group, because of coach’s training and because of our buy into the training, he’s able to take a group of 15 boys and make them state contenders.”

Senior Cade Whitfield missed all of last season amid a hip injury. He returned this year as the team’s No. 3 runner and a personal-best 16:37.

Whitfield credits Reeves’ passion for the sport and attention to each runner’s needs and goals.

“I’ve never experienced a coach like him,” he said. “He sat down with me with college recruiting and told me every single step I’ve needed to take, and he’s honestly the one that inspired me to give it my all like he does, because I just didn’t want to give 50% for him.”

Gordy expressed similar feelings for the coach: “He knows every runner has different motivations and different goals, so he makes sure that he specializes our training to what we want to run, like our times, and like what we want to do after high school, and how we want to get there.”

Running through quarantine
Even with myriad medals and trophies earned this season, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Sunlake this season.

The team was forced to quarantine from Sept. 24 through Oct. 3 after one of its runners tested positive for COVID-19.

Unable to practice together as a group, runners had to train individually and log their times online each day. Meetings and workout instructions were held virtually, through Zoom.

The team took the setback in stride, viewing it as an opportunity to not take the season for granted.

“Being quarantined, it really showed the value of having teammates to run with,” said Culpepper. “When you’re running on your own, you’ve gotta push yourself a little more, versus, when you’re running with the team as committed as you are, it definitely helps you.

“It’s definitely made us more appreciative of our team and our dynamic, and the ability that we have to be able to run together and even have a season this year. It was kind of a new perspective that we needed,” he said.

Gordy believes the occurrence made the team stronger, in the end, too.

“I feel like when we came back, we were eager to race and be better at the races, and we were more rested,” she said. “It was like a refreshment, kind of. Like a break, and then we focus on what we want as a team.”

As Reeves puts it: “The world gave us lemons, and we decided to make lemonade out of it.”

Now, looking ahead to this weekend’s state championship, the Seahawks are confident for a strong showing — maybe even better than 2019’s version.

Training at Trout Creek Park in Thonotosassa — plus past experience competing at states —  has prepared Sunlake for the mix of hills and flat terrain at the Apalachee course, Reeves said.

“It plays well for us,” Reeves said of the state meet course. “We do a lot of our training that replicates parts of the state course, and so they’re not surprised. When they get out to that course, they’re going to feel fine, nothing’s going to shock them, they’re going to know how to run.”

Sunlake varsity boys cross-country

  • Colby Robbins, junior (15:56)
  • Alex Pena, sophomore (16:15)
  • Cade Whitfield, senior (16:37)
  • Cason Meyer, junior (16:48)
  • Andres Alfonso, junior (16:54)
  • Max Goserud, junior (17:13)
  • Nathan Lee, sophomore (17:39)
  • Cody Smith, junior (17:47)

Sunlake varsity girls cross-country

  • Shannon Gordy, senior (18:53, personal record)
  • Ashley Spires, senior (19:59)
  • Atlanta Lofton, sophomore (20:26)
  • Shelby Viseur, junior (20:44)
  • Caitlyn Culpepper, junior (20:44)
  • Sarah Ellingson, junior (20:48)
  • Annie Winborn, sophomore (21:01)
  • Abigail Williams, freshman (21:10)

Published November 11, 2020

Pasco Extension gets a new home

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Pasco County Extension is operating out of a new building at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

The organization, which operates under a partnership between the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Pasco County, also has adapted its programming to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whitney Elmore enjoys her new office at UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County. She said most programming is being done online now, but things will change once the threat from COVID-19 subsides. (B.C. Manion)

Dr. Whitney Elmore, director of UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension, recently provided a tour of the new office to a reporter from The Laker/Lutz News.

The 6,400-square-foot facility is a massive upgrade from the Extension’s old office. It features a large, open classroom area — with the potential of adding a sliding wall, to convert the space into two rooms. It also has a small kitchenette and several offices.

“It’s a fantastic new opportunity, not only for the team, but for the citizens — to be able to come here and enjoy it —  a very functional space,” Elmore said.

The new office, which opened in June, was about five years in the making.

It was constructed through a $1.1-million state grant combined with $244,000 in funding from Pasco County and $197,000 from the Pasco County Fair Association. The fair association applied for the state grant, which required local matching funds.

“Now, we have this nice, new facility that really meets our needs, and again, is an excellent educational facility,” Elmore said.

Though the doors are open, people aren’t streaming in yet — as Extension takes precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following UF/IFAS and Pasco County protocols.

Like other operations throughout Florida, the Extension office closed when Florida went on lockdown.

Then, Extension pivoted.

“We went virtual, quickly. It’s not a surprise, because that’s what Extension is, anywhere — we adjust, we’re flexible, we’re adaptable.

“Honestly, I can’t be prouder of this team. I’m not surprised, but I can’t be prouder of the team.

Receptionist Michelle Jedych loves Pasco County Extension’s new office, at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. She said it provides an inviting venue for people who are coming there to receive services.

“They just, literally, overnight, said, ‘OK, we’re not in person — which has been the standard for 100 years for Extension —  we’re going to make the best of this, we’re going to adjust and we put everything on line.

“So, they just picked up and ran with it,” she said.

Even those who were not particularly comfortable with technology made the switch.

“They knew this is what had to be done. There was not one complaint. There was not one grumble from this team,” Elmore said.

The staff stays focused.

“We are very mission-oriented. We have servant’s hearts. The public needed us in so many ways, and that shifted some, especially with what we call ‘pandemic’ gardening.

“The horticulture questions went through the roof, with people working in our community gardens. Our community gardens employees were considered essential because that’s food systems related and those continued on, not missing a beat.

“We set up dozens of online learning opportunities. We partnered with the Pasco EDC, the Sheriff’s Office, you name it, to offer a wide variety of learning opportunities,” Elmore said.

The efforts received a tremendous response.

“Just our social media engagement went up about 4,000%, in a month,” the Extension services director said.

“We had people from other countries that were tuning in. Definitely, other parts of the state. They learned about us and they also learned about Pasco County,” she said.

Extension and the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., also work together at a facility, called the One Stop Shop, on Lock Street in Dade City. The facility has a commercial kitchen and Pasco EDC offers programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs to establish businesses, and to help existing businesses thrive.

“We had people wanting to come from Miami to use our commercial space, at our One Stop Shop, because of some of the learning opportunities. It put a spotlight on Pasco County, and not just on Extension,” Elmore said.

Concerns about COVID-19 have caused a significant reduction of in-person classes and events.

“We do have some very small, in-person, teaching events. Those typically revolve around people needing to get a license, a certification, to continue or get new employment,” she said.

The University of Florida UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County now has a new facility at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

Some changes made to remain safe during COVID-19 will become permanent.

“At the end of the day, it’s been in a lot of ways, very beneficial,” she said.

Online programs are not only safer, they’re more convenient, Elmore said.

Extension has introduced new programming, which Elmore expects to continue on — even after in-person activities pick up.

“It opened up lines of creativity and collaboration, across program areas that we never really explored before, that just make sense now,” Elmore said.

Despite valuable changes that have resulted from COVID-19, there have terrible consequences, too, Elmore said.

“There are tremendous negatives to what has transpired. Economics. Jobs. People getting sick and dying.

“We have experienced that loss in our Extension family. Dorothy Moore, she was one of our master gardeners. She passed away in July, in Dade City.

“That was a hard hit for us. Emotionally, that took a toll,” she said, plus it required Extension staffers who had been in contact with Moore to quarantine for 14 days.

Published October 07, 2020

The Dade City Banner chronicled local news

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By the time Katharine Graham became publisher of the Washington Post in 1963, Margaret Bazzell had already been the publisher for The Dade City Banner for 20 years.

Both women became owners of their family owned newspapers upon the deaths of their husbands.

Succeeding in a male-dominated industry, Graham was the first female publisher of a major American newspaper. Her paper’s coverage of the Watergate scandal eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974.

The National Guard was brought in to protect dozens of homes and businesses damaged by a tornado, as reported by The Dade City Banner on April 2, 1959. (Courtesy of the University of Florida Digital Collections)

Bazzell became the first female publisher in Pasco County during World War II. Her husband died when he was just 42.

The newspaper reported the death under the headline — “H. S. Bazzell died suddenly Sunday p.m.,” spelled out in all capital letters.

An account, published Jan. 22, 1943, said in part: “When an employee is called upon to chronicle the passing of his employer and intimate friend it borders on the impossible.”

Prior to the Banner’s first publication on July 25, 1913, it chose a name that was briefly considered for Pasco County in 1887.

Volume 1, number 1 of the Banner was a “well-edited and well-appearing paper,” observed its first editor John Tippen.

Published on the Banner’s front page was a picture of “the beautiful Edwinola Hotel.” It was completed the previous year at a cost of about $50,000.

The structure was described this way in the Banner: “It is a fire-proof concrete building of three stories, containing 32 guest rooms, all of which are located on the second and third floors, the first floor being used for office, parlor and a dining room.”

In a notice to its readers and advertisers in 1915, the Banner promised “to conduct a clean, wholesome newspaper, which will give in every instance a fair deal to all.”

For much of the Banner’s history, that public pledge was followed by Margaret Bazzell.

During her time as owner and publisher until 1968, Margaret Bazzell would see her son, Harley S. Bazzell Jr., become editor.

She also hired her daughter-in-law Roszlyn “Ro” Bazzell (who died earlier this year); Harold Taylor, as typesetter; and William R. Branas, as advertising manager.

Calling itself “Pasco County’s Leading Newspaper,” the Banner became a daily and would eventually cover all of East and Central Pasco County, including the towns of Blanton, Dade City, Land O’ Lakes, Richland, Ridge Manor, San Antonio, Trilby, Gator (Wesley Chapel) and Zephyrhills.

“We lived within walking distance of our jobs,” former reporter Nell Moody Woodcock recalls on the Pasco County history website Fivay.org.

This old post card shows the offices of The Dade City Banner sometime in the early 1920s. The newspaper’s staff is pictured on the front steps, while a company car is shown on the right. (Courtesy of David Ward)

Keeping a finger on the pulse on Pasco
“The Banner was the newspaper of record for legal advertisements. Hard news was generated at the Pasco County Courthouse or city hall,” Woodcock recalls.

It was convenient that the Coleman and Ferguson Funeral Home was located on the opposite side of Seventh Street from the Banner.

“Their ambulances were called to emergencies, and a check with the front office would reveal the location and severity of the incident,” explains Woodcock, who grew up in Lacoochee and later retired as a staff reporter with The Tampa Tribune.

Readers especially enjoyed the Society Page by editor Catherine H. McIntosh. This section of the Banner was filled with articles about children’s birthday parties, families entertaining out-of-town guests, and weddings that were not complete without full descriptions of the dresses worn by the brides.

Typical was the following published on June 30, 1952: “Given in marriage by her father, the bride (Miss Vivian Bailey) wore a gown of candlelight satin with the full skirt terminating in a cathedral train. An overskirt of princess lace was a feature of the gown, which was fashioned with a basque bodice, with jewel neckline and long fitted sleeves with points over the hands. Her fingertip veil of illusion fell from a Queen of Scots cap, caught with orange blossoms, and appliqued with princess lace. She carried a shower bouquet of lilies of the valley and stephanotis, centered with a white orchid.”

With no door-to-door delivery, “subscribers got the paper in the mail (and) those who were in the military could learn all about what was happening back home by having the paper mailed to them,” according to the Fivay.org website.

That included local sports coverage by Gerald Newton, who was hired by the Banner in 1965 while still a 23-year-old student at Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland.

“I was once warned about being too wordy with some of my articles,” Newton posted on his Facebook page for Feb. 23, 2020.

This undated photograph shows the new Edwinola Hotel near downtown Dade City. Opening on March 8, 1912, it made front page news published in the first edition of The Dade City Banner on July 25, 1913. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)

The 1979 Dade City Little League state championship and the 1992 Pasco Pirate state title were covered during his 47-year career that spanned three newspapers following the Banner, as well as sports director for radio station WDCF in Dade City, and as a coach and teacher for Pasco County Schools.

Nearly 3,000 issues of The Dade City Banner are part of the digital collections on file at the University of Florida.

Preserving the newspaper began with efforts by the Pasco County Genealogy Society in 2000.

“They thought it would be a good idea to start indexing the births, deaths and marriages in The Dade City Banner,” explains Glen Thompson, a member of the Friends of the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City.

Following seven years of work on issues printed from 1913 to 1923, these copies were sent to the University of Florida. Also shipped out were Banners found in a dumpster, and others stored in archival boxes at city hall.

According to Angelo Liranzo, the library’s manager, copies of The Dade City Banner were digitized from 1914 to 1971 at a cost of approximately $15,000.

While the digital files are all PDF, the original papers still survive.

They chronicle news including construction of the new Evans bulk orange juice concentrate facilities south of Dade City in 1957, and the closing of the Cummer & Sons Cypress Company in 1959.

But, the stories of generations of families are the primary history that is preserved, in part, on the pages of The Dade City Banner.

The records are not clear, but sometime between 1973 and 1974, The Dade City Banner changed its name to The Pasco News under new management.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published October 07, 2020

Florida 4-H Hall of Fame to induct local woman

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Long before she shared her knowledge about Florida politics with local, state and national audiences — Susan MacManus was involved with 4-H.

In fact, she credits her experiences through 4-H with helping her to develop the skills that would become so important in her career as professor of political science, and as a political analyst for national presidential conventions.

Susan A. MacManus, third from left, poses in a photo with three other Florida 4-H’ers, during a trip to Washington D.C. The man in the center is James A. Haley. The veterans hospital in Tampa is named for Haley. (Courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)

MacManus has never forgotten how important 4-H has been in her life, and for years, she has put in a good word to people in power, when she could —  to help support the organization.

She also volunteered time to be a judge — primarily for public speaking competitions.

Her contributions to the organization will be recognized on Oct. 6, when MacManus is inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame, during a virtual Zoom ceremony.

The honor goes to those who exemplify the 4-H motto ‘to make the best better’ through citizenship, leadership, career and character, and to those who are champions for Florida’s youth with the 4-H Youth Development Program, according to a University of Florida social media posting.

Florida 4-H has inducted 183 members into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame, since 2002.

Others receiving the honor this year are Kim Massagee, Vicki Meriwether, Hal Porter and Donald Richard Sellers.

MacManus, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, is delighted by the recognition. “They called me out of the blue. I had no clue,” she said.

Her association with 4-H began when she was 10.

“I think that’s when you were eligible,” she recalled, during a recent interview.

“It was very formative,” she said, noting it helped her to develop the public speaking and organizational skills that would become so important in her professional life.

“You may not know this, but my mother was painfully shy. She was pretty committed to making sure that we didn’t have that problem,” MacManus said.

Susan A. MacManus, a retired distinguished professor of political science from the University of South Florida, stands near her home in Land O’ Lakes. Her family has deep roots in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. (File)

Her mother became very involved in 4-H, serving as a leader for more than 23 years, and the MacManus kids, and their cousins, were active in 4-H, too.

“It was a natural thing for us to be in,” MacManus said. “Everybody out here was in citrus or cattle or some kind of agriculture. It was a real big part of all my family.

“We loved going to the fair. My sister used to show cows at the fair. I had chickens.

“We’d have exhibits at the fair and give presentations at the fair, and there would competitions. So, I got to know people from all over,” MacManus said.

During eight years of 4-H, MacManus completed 70 projects and received numerous awards, according to a report published decades ago in the former Dade City Banner.

She was twice president of her high school 4-H club. She took projects to district demonstrations on four occasions and won project medals each time.

She served as historian, reporter and president. Plus, she was a district representative and state historian.

But, her activities didn’t stop there.

She was a delegate to the 42nd National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, and a Florida representative to the National Four-H Conference in Washington D.C.

She gave speeches and made appearances on radio and television programs.

She took on local and state leadership roles, which opened doors to broadening her skills, too, she said.

“I was an officer. You learn about organizational dynamics and collaborative efforts,” she said. On top of that, it was fun.

“I worked at the Florida 4-H camps,” she said, noting that was her job during summers of her college years, to help pay her college expenses.

4-H opens doors to new opportunities
MacManus traveled to the nation’s capital, in an expenses-paid trip, when she was a member of the Florida State University 4-H Club.

A look at Susan MacManus when she was a young 4-H-er. (Courtesy of Susan A. MacManus)

The four Florida delegates met Sen. Spessard Holland, Sen. George Smathers, Rep. James A. Haley and Rep. Claude Pepper, according to a report that detailed the trip.

They toured the Capitol Building and visited different offices of government, business and education. Vice President Hubert Humphrey spoke at one of the general assemblies.

They also went on a special tour of the White House and attended a reception hosted by Lady Bird Johnson, the report says.

“That’s where I met LBJ (President Lyndon B. Johnson) and (First Lady) Lady Bird (Johnson),” MacManus recently recalled. “LBJ actually asked me about what 4-H was like, and about Florida.”

The 4-H’ers also received a police escort throughout the week as they visited the National Art Gallery, the National Archives, Arlington National Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and Mount Vernon, according to a recap of the trip.

It was MacManus’ first trip to Washington D.C., but certainly not her last.

MacManus has retired from her university teaching career, but she still shares her knowledge about Florida politics.

She thinks 4-H continues to offer valuable opportunities, with diverse programming that has kept up with the times, and she highly recommends it.

“It (4-H) offers terrific leadership training,” MacManus said.

Published September 23, 2020

New principal embraces chance to lead Steinbrenner

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Tiffany Ewell, the new principal at Steinbrenner High School, said she always  knew she would face a learning curve when taking the leadership role at a school.

However, she said, “my learning curve might be a little steeper than I ever imagined.”

After all, in addition to assuming a  new role, Ewell faces a school year filled with uncertainties because of COVID-19.

“But, we’re all in the same boat,” Ewell said. “The challenges are there for everyone. We’re going to get through this and we’ll do it together.’’

Tiffany Ewell, the new principal at Steinbrenner High School, comes from Strawberry Crest High, where she was assistant principal in charge of the International Baccalaureate program. (Joey Johnston)

The educator, who was promoted in June from her position as assistant principal for the International Baccalaureate program at Strawberry Crest High in Dover, has spent her summer preparing for the new school year.

At a time when the incoming principal would normally be assessing her faculty lineup, meeting and greeting with parents, and getting to know the community, she’s forced to work at a social distance. She’s preparing Steinbrenner’s brick-and-mortar classrooms for the proper health precautions, while also devising strategies for eLearning students.

“Some of the best advice a first-time principal can receive is the need to be patient and flexible … and that’s certainly true right now,’’ Ewell said. “Even though we’re in a historic and stressful time, I know I’m surrounded by so much support. We all want the same thing and that’s to see our students be successful.

“Regardless of COVID-19, there are a lot of changes in the county with a new superintendent (Addison Davis). There’s a great feeling of camaraderie among all the principals. Staff and parents have been super supportive. Steinbrenner has been a great school for a long time. I’m relying on the support systems available to me and know things don’t have to be reinvented. I’m here to help and, at times, put my own direction on it. I’m very excited to be here.’’

Ewell replaces Kelly King, who was assigned to Hillsborough High after seven years as Steinbrenner’s principal.

Ironically, Ewell and King once worked side by side as social studies instructors when their teaching careers began at King High School. They went together from King to Freedom, following principal Richard Bartels, who told them both, “I’m going to make principals of you one day.’’

“Mr. Bartels was right … it actually happened,’’ King said. “Certainly, it defies the odds that two social studies teachers and next-door classroom neighbors just starting out would become principals.

“Even long ago, we talked about it all the time. We went through all the leadership development courses and programs. We had the same kind of goals. We were just two peas in a pod. I’m thrilled that Tiffany has gotten this opportunity, and I couldn’t think of a better person for the Steinbrenner position.’’

As they shifted into administration, King and Ewell worked a parallel path, sometimes applying for the same jobs, even driving together to attend back-to-back interviews.

“I can always pick up the phone and ask Kelly a question, so our friendship and her experience at Steinbrenner are a great asset,’’ said Ewell, who had worked at Strawberry Crest since the East Hillsborough County school opened in 2009.

King said the Steinbrenner community won’t notice much of a difference because “Tiffany and I are really similar in so many ways.’’

Indeed, they are close friends and confidants. They have even taken vacations together.

“Tiffany’s leadership style will be a great fit at Steinbrenner,’’ King said. “She was a very strong teacher and she has the IB experience, so she knows the importance of college readiness. I think she will continue the success of the academic and extracurricular programs.

“This is a unique time with unique challenges, but it’s still the best job in the world. As a principal, there are stressful times, but you remain focused on the big picture. You do what’s right for the students. You hear from all the people who have a stake in it, then make decisions, always keeping the students first and foremost. Through it all, you’ve got to have some fun, too. The job can wear you out, but it’s also so fun and so rewarding. Tiffany will have the perfect priorities for success,” King said.

In assuming the school’s top job, Ewell becomes just the third principal in Steinbrenner’s history, replacing King, who had replaced Brenda Grasso, the school’s first principal.

Ewell is a graduate of King High School. She originally attended the University of Florida (UF) with designs on becoming a broadcast journalist. In high school, she even conducted an interview with Fox-13 news anchor Kelly Ring, while dreaming of one day filling a similar role in her hometown.

Back then, some King teachers insisted that Ewell would ultimately migrate into education.

“I’m not going to be a teacher, I’m a journalist,’’ Ewell protested.

But, at UF, she visualized a gypsy lifestyle in broadcasting, hopping from town to town while climbing the career ladder, and that didn’t seem appealing.

She transferred to the University of South Florida, where she shifted to education.

Ewell hasn’t regretted the move.

She loves to travel. She’s a doting aunt to her nephews, Drew and Zach Ehrhard, both high-level baseball players. She’s passionate about all things Tampa Bay.

But, her biggest passion is education. And now, that passion is centered on Steinbrenner.

“Obviously, there are a lot of unknowns right now.

“But, we’re going to build relationships and make it work. Things have worked well at Steinbrenner for a long time. I’m here to lend support and keep things moving in a good direction,” Ewell said.

By Joey Johnston

Published July 29, 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

Pasco mobility fee rates expected to change in September

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The Pasco County Commission is poised to remove an incentive that benefits market-rate apartments throughout the county.

Stripping the incentive will, in essence, create a higher fee for those apartments.

At the same time, commissioners are expected to encourage more affordable housing across the county and to spur redevelopment in the West Market Area — by eliminating mobility fees in those categories.

Commissioners held a virtual public hearing on the changes on June 2 and are scheduled to hold a second, and final, virtual public hearing on June 16 at 1:30 p.m.

This apartment development, near Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56, is among many complexes built in Pasco County during recent years. The Pasco County Commission wants to take away its mobility fee incentive for new market-rate apartment developments. (File)

The money generated by removing the incentive for market-rate apartments in theory would offset the elimination of mobility fees in the affordable housing and West Market Area categories.

No fee changes are planned for low-rise condominiums/townhomes; high-rise condominiums; age-restricted multifamily, and congregate care facilities.

Also, no increase is proposed for apartments in projects that have mixed-used trip reduction measures, are traditional neighborhood developments or are transit-oriented developments.

Two speakers from the Bay Area Apartment Association called in, to address the board.

Eric Garduno, government affairs director for the association, told the board: “We’re happy to see this proposal reduces mobility fees for affordable multifamily housing, but we are concerned that it increases fees for multifamily housing in the standard urban, suburban and rural categories.

“It wasn’t long ago that commission set mobility rates for the county, which adjusted fees for dozens of land use categories,” Garduno said. “For this proposal to single out multifamily seems arbitrary in light of those recent actions.”

Garduno also made a case for increased construction of apartments in Pasco County.

“Market data demonstrates, actually, there’s strong demand for apartments in Pasco County, with occupancy rates over 92% for the last 10 years, even as new apartments are added each year.

“The other thing to keep in mind is the economic contributions that apartments make to the county. Each apartment community represents millions of dollars of investment. And, each represents jobs. Construction jobs to build them. Onsite management to run them, and professionals like plumbers, electricians, to fix them,” Garduno said.

Wendy Milenkevich, vice president of Bay Area Apartment Association, applauded the county board’s efforts to encourage more affordable housing.

“According to the 2019 rental market survey conducted by the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida, 29% of Pasco County’s population is considered below income and pay more than 30% of their income towards housing. This is a clear indication that additional affordable housing is needed in our county,” she said.

“Despite this need, it is often a challenge to build affordable multifamily housing. Between increasing costs of land, labor and materials that go into building and maintaining apartment communities, it is difficult to keep at a level that low-income households can afford, without specific incentives provided by government.

“According to the National Apartment Association, on average, 14 cents of every dollar charged in rent goes toward government taxes and fees. Reduction in fees could create the margins that make the difference between a project being built, or not,” she said.

Milenkevich congratulated Pasco County for taking a step toward more affordable housing.

“Providing incentives like these is an important proactive measure by local government.

“We applaud you for taking steps to better encourage affordable housing,” she said.

Commissioners also indicated that they support a Sept. 1 effective date, despite a recommendation by the Pasco County Planning Commission to delay implementation until Jan. 1, 2021.

Planning commissioners reasoned that now isn’t a good time to raise fees, given the crushing impact that COVID-19 has had on the economy.

The apartment association’s Garduna asked commissioners to follow the planning commission’s recommended Jan. 1 implementation.

The county board, however, was not swayed by the planning commission’s recommendation and indicated support for moving ahead with the fee changes at the earliest practical date.

Published June 10, 2020

Locals among top MLB draft prospects

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Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball (MLB)’s 2020 first-year player draft has been shortened to five rounds, from the usual 40 rounds in previous years.

The draft, scheduled for June 10 and June 11, assigns amateur baseball players to MLB teams.

Even with the new consolidated format, however, several locals from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area have a solid chance at being among the 160 athletes drafted. And, they have the possibility of living out their boyhood dreams and landing signing bonuses of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars.

Steinbrenner High product CJ Van Eyk, now at Florida State University (Courtesy of Florida State University athletics department)

Four athletes with area ties are listed among MLB.com’s top 200 nationwide draft prospect rankings, including two within the top 100.

The highest-rated local is Steinbrenner High alum CJ Van Eyk, a junior right-handed pitcher at Florida State University (FSU) — listed as the No. 39 overall draft prospect, by the website.

The 6-foot-1, 198-pound Van Eyk registered an 18-5 win-loss record, 3.21 ERA, 1.274 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 176.2 innings pitched across three college seasons.

The Lutz native has been a known commodity going back to his prep days, earning first-team All-American honors and a gold medal with the 18U USA National Team. He also led Steinbrenner to its first state championship as a junior in 2016 and was crowned Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year.

Van Eyk was drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the 2017 draft, but didn’t sign, opting for college instead.

A snippet of MLB.com’s analysis on Van Eyk reads: “The Florida State ace is capable of being a complete pitcher because of his willingness to pitch in with his fastball, his ability to throw his breaking ball at any point in the count and his feel for mixing his pitches to keep hitters off-balance, though issues with his command persisted over his first four starts in 2020. His potential as a starter still should have him in consideration in the top two rounds of the Draft.”

Sunlake High product Tommy Mace, now at the University of Florida (Courtesy of University of Florida athletics department)

The next highest-ranked local is Sunlake High product Tommy Mace, a junior-right handed pitcher at the University of Florida — rated the No. 70 overall prospect for the 2020 draft.

In three seasons at Florida, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Mace compiled a 16-5 win-loss record, 4.37 ERA, 1.299 WHIP and 145 strikeouts in 179.1 innings pitched. He was off to his best college campaign this year, tallying a 1.67 ERA in a team-high 27 innings, until the remainder of the season was canceled thanks to COVID-19.

Mace was a three-year varsity player at Sunlake. His senior year he guided the program to a 17-12 mark and the Class 7A regional final. He then was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round of the 2017 draft, but like Van Eyk, didn’t sign to pursue the college route.

MLB.com’s profile on Mace reports states the following: “Mace generally does a nice job of throwing strikes, keeping the ball down in the zone and getting ground ball outs. He gets high marks for his mound presence and makeup, putting him among a solid crop of top two round college pitchers in Florida.”

Though slightly outside our coverage area, an athlete in west Pasco County also cracked MLB’s top 200 prospect list.

Wesley Chapel native/Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High product Carson Ragsdale, now at the University of South Florida (Courtesy of University of South Florida athletics department)

Trinity native Jackson Miller, a senior catcher at Mitchell High, is rated as the 2020 draft’s No. 105 prospect. The Wake Forest University commit posted a .414/.498/.591 slash line in 88 games across four varsity seasons.

Meanwhile, Wesley Chapel native/Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High product Carson Ragsdale, a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher at the University of South Florida (USF), is ranked as the draft’s No. 170 prospect.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Ragsdale transitioned to a starter’s role this year at USF, after pitching out of the bullpen his freshman and sophomore seasons. (He missed the 2019 season following Tommy John surgery). He posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.391 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 50.1 innings across three college seasons. Off the field, he was selected to the 2018-2019 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.

Ragsdale was a four-year letter winner at Bishop McLaughlin. He compiled a 1.58 ERA and .352 batting average in his high school career. Those Hurricanes teams that Ragsdale played on went a combined 77-21 from 2013 to 2016.

MLB.com’s report on Ragsdale observes: “Ragsdale threw a lot of strikes this spring, but is still more control than command at this point. Given that scouts only saw four outings from Ragsdale as USF’s Sunday starter, there’s very limited track record for teams to look at, but his size and arm strength, even if it ends up in the bullpen, could be enough for teams to take a chance on him in this year’s Draft.”

Robust draft history
It’s not uncommon for at least a couple locals from area high schools and colleges to be drafted each year.

Last year, Land O’ Lakes High/St. Petersburg College second baseman Dustin Harris was selected in the 11th round by the Oakland Athletics, while Pasco-Hernando State College/University of Tampa pitcher Tyler Beck was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 30th round.

The 2018 draft yielded four local products:

  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High/University of North Florida pitcher Frank German (fourth round, New York Yankees)
  • Saint Leo University pitcher/first baseman Jake Sims (31st round, San Diego Padres)
  • Saint Leo University second baseman Zach Scott (32nd round, Seattle Mariners)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High/University of North Florida pitcher Austin Drury (34th round, Los Angeles Dodgers)

The 2017 draft also was particularly kind to local talent. In addition to Van Eyk and Mace getting drafted out of the prep ranks, six other athletes with local ties were chosen:

  • Odessa native/Bishop McLaughlin/College of Central Florida pitcher Nate Pearson (first round, Toronto Blue Jays)
  • Steinbrenner High/USF shortstop Kevin Merrell (first round compensatory, Oakland Athletics)
  • Steinbrenner High first baseman Patrick Morris (14th round, Toronto Blue Jays)
  • Steinbrenner High/Bishop McLaughlin/University of Pittsburgh pitcher Josh Falk (17th round, Oakland Athletics)
  • Odessa native/Alonso High pitcher Jordan Butler (34th round, New York Yankees)
  • Bishop McLaughlin outfielder Paul Coumoulos (40th round, Philadelphia Phillies)

Locals on MLB.com’s top 200 prospect rankings

  • Steinbrenner High/Florida State University pitcher CJ Van Eyk (No. 39 overall draft prospect)
  • Sunlake High/University of Florida pitcher Tommy Mace (No. 70)
  • Trinity/Mitchell High catcher Jackson Miller (No. 105)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High/University of South Florida pitcher Carson Ragsdale (No. 170)

Published May 27, 2020

Finding a way to shine a spotlight on seniors

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During normal times, Marie Joles is busy at her day job, working as a dental hygienist.

And, typically during this time of year, high school seniors are gearing up for their final festivities in high school — prom, awards ceremonies, graduation.

But, the threat of a highly contagious and deadly virus — the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic — has upended life’s ordinary routines.

So, instead of going to work, Joles has been at home. And, instead of gearing up for traditional celebrations and hanging out with friends, seniors have been spending their final school days distance learning.

(Courtesy of Marie Joles)

Joles hated the thought that their senior year would end that way. After all, she remembered how special it was for her family to go through the festivities when her daughter, Samantha, graduated last year.

So, Joles, who is a board member of the Wiregrass Ranch High School’s PTSA and in charge of that group’s social media efforts, asked PTSA president Jennifer Kanyok, if she could do Senior Spotlights on their social media.

Once she got the go-ahead, she began soliciting the spotlights on her personal Facebook page and on the Seven Oaks Facebook page.

Then she reached out by text and email to Robyn White, the school’s principal; David Wilson, the athletic director; and to all of the school coaches.

She also reached out to Bobbie Gebhart, the band booster president, and Jeni Wiseman, the football team mom — to spread the word about the profiles.

The parents submit the photos and blurbs, which Joles tweaks and posts.

In less than 24 hours, she had seven profiles ready.

Now, there are dozens posted.

They convey a sense of pride of the parents who submitted the blurbs about their children.

The profiles offer a glimpse of the lives these members of the Wiregrass Ranch High Class of 2020 have led, and offer insights about their personalities and aspirations.

Some have earned college credits, a college diploma or industry certifications while still in high school. Others have volunteered hundreds of hours.

They’ve been in theatrical performances, in marching band and orchestra, in color guard and cheerleading.

They’ve competed in lacrosse, soccer, swimming, football, track, basketball, weightlifting, basketball and other sports.

They’ve been members of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, and Health Occupations Students of America, to name just a few clubs.

And, they have wide-ranging ambitions.

Some plan to pursue traditional careers, such as nursing, law and business administration. Others aspire to less common paths, such as becoming a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, a makeup specialist or an animator.

Most graduates appear to be heading off to higher education in the Sunshine State, at such colleges as Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University, the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Florida State University and Stetson University.

Regardless of what they’ve done, or where they’re going — they have made an impression.

One graduate is described as “a beautiful soul and a day of sunshine.”

Another is said to have “a musician’s heart.”

One “has a big heart, is a hard worker and knows how to live in the moment.”

Another has “a wicked sense of humor, amazing spirit and zeal for life.”

Joles said she wanted to do the spotlights because this is a special time for seniors and they deserve recognition.

“I wanted to let them know that we appreciate them,” she said.

Those wishing Joles to post a profile of a Wiregrass Ranch senior can reach out to her at  , or text her at (813) 830-8643.

How are you celebrating your graduating seniors?
The normal ceremonies that mark completion of high school are being postponed until later this year. Meanwhile, families and schools are getting creative in their efforts to help celebrate members of the Class of 2020.

What are you doing? We’d love to know. We’re planning to do a story sharing how families and schools within The Laker/Lutz News are rising to the occasion to make their high school seniors feel special.

Send your submissions to .

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Published May 06, 2020