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Wiregrass Ranch High School

Creating a culture for success at Wiregrass Ranch High

February 2, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Wiregrass Ranch High School Principal Robyn White was just 13 when she decided her path in life.

“The only question I had, honestly, was whether I wanted to teach music or math,” said White, who went on to teach mathematics at the middle and high school levels, before stepping into school administration.

Next month, on March 13, White will mark her 15th anniversary at Wiregrass Ranch High, at 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Wiregrass Ranch High School Principal Robyn White has seen a lot of change through the years, but she said students essentially remain the same: ‘They just want somebody to care. They just want to know that they’re making somebody proud.’ (The principal had been wearing a mask as a precaution due to COVID-19, but she removed it for this photo). (B.C. Manion)

The educator joined the school as an assistant principal, under the direction of Ray Bonti, the school’s first principal. Later, she was promoted to the school’s top post, to replace Bonti when he ascended to become an assistant superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

White said Bonti was one of the most important mentors in her career. He gave her a chance, she said, to learn about all aspects of school administration before she took the helm at Wiregrass Ranch.

Bonti, now executive director of the Hillsborough Association of School Administrators, said White excelled, and was his logical replacement.

“Robyn is one of the smartest administrators that I’ve worked with over my almost 30 years working in Pasco County Schools,” Bonti said. “Not only was she one of the smartest that I’ve worked with — she was a tireless worker. She put 100% effort into it.”

She also provides sound guidance, Bonti added.

“I learned a lot from her. A lot of people learned a lot from her. She mentored many teachers. She mentored many students,” Bonti said.

Over the years, Wiregrass Ranch High has developed a reputation for excellence, and during the 2019-2020 school year, White was selected as high school principal of the year by the Pasco County Council PTA.

Denise Nicholas, president of the council at the time, said White is known for running a tight ship, and for welcoming student ideas.

“She has an open-door policy for her students,” Nicholas said.

White listens, she said.

“The number of activities and groups for students, with whatever different interests — if they  have a plan and they have a sponsor, and it makes sense, she absolutely will support that.

“There is a tremendous number of clubs, for every different interest, which is phenomenal,” Nicholas said.

Bonti said that White “has always maintained that really good balance of setting high expectations and creating a culture that (makes) people want to be there.”

She didn’t set out to be a principal
When White was beginning her career, her only ambition was to teach.

“I just remember being in awe of teachers, and what they did and what they taught me,” White said, noting she was particularly influenced by Marita Noe and Shirley Holm, two of her high school math teachers.

White knew she had a knack for helping her friends and other students learn.

At one point, her mom recognized her math skills and suggested she pursue a career in accounting.

But, White didn’t want to sit behind a desk, she wanted to be personally involved in helping others.

So, after graduating from the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, White landed her first job, teaching mathematics at Dunedin Highland Middle School in Pinellas County.

Students across the nation walked out of classrooms on March 14, 2018, in a protest against gun violence and a call for greater action by Congress to keep students safe. The walkout was sanctioned at Wiregrass Ranch High. ‘I believe that students should have a voice to express their concerns, their opinions,’ said Wiregrass Ranch High Principal Robyn White. (File)

After that, she worked four years in a dropout prevention program, before returning to the classroom to teach sixth-grade mathematics.

Her next teaching stop was at Dunedin High School.

“I loved being a part of the classroom,” White said.

It never occurred to her to pursue a job in administration.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that I would have been a principal of a school. I wouldn’t have even given it a consideration,” she said.

But, gentle nudging from Dr. Mildred Reed, her principal at Dunedin High School, changed that.

White was very involved at Dunedin High. Besides teaching, she was the athletic director, she sponsored multiple clubs and she chaired a committee involving small learning communities.

Reed came to her and said: “I don’t understand. You do all of this and don’t get any pay for it, Why wouldn’t you go back to school and consider getting into administration?”

White went on: “I really hadn’t thought of it, to be very honest. I loved being in the classroom.”

But Reed had planted a seed.

White began taking a class here and there, thinking perhaps someday she might explore an administrative role. After all, she already had a master’s degree and would just need certification.

When an assistant principal retired, White became an acting assistant principal — allowing her the chance to give it a try.

“I did that for a semester, thinking that position would be open the following year and it would be a nice, easy transition,” White said.

It didn’t play out that way.

“That was the year that Pinellas County cut 23 assistant principals, so, I went back to the classroom,” she said.

That didn’t bother her, because she loved teaching.

But because she had served as an acting assistant principal, she found herself being called upon repeatedly to fill in when another assistant principal was out.

“That got a little bit old,” White said, so she decided to apply in Pasco County, which was advertising for administrators.

Her first interview was for a job at Zephyrhills High, which she didn’t get.

Her next interview was for a job at Wesley Chapel High, which she landed.

“I’ll never forget the day I got the call. It was a Friday afternoon,” she said.

She was at a conference wrestling meet.

“I thought, ‘My goodness, how am I going to tell these kids that I’m leaving?

“I can just remember, going back and sitting up in the bleachers and literally putting up a newspaper in front of my face and crying.

“Mr. (Andy) Frelick (principal at Wesley Chapel) was very kind. He allowed (me) to have some flex days in finishing up at Dunedin High School, because I was involved in so much.”

She went to work at Wesley Chapel High on Jan. 31, 2005, but her stay there was short-lived.

Wiregrass Ranch High was opening and students from Wesley Chapel were being reassigned to that school. White’s job at Wesley Chapel High was cut.

She joined Bonti’s staff on March 13, 2006.

When the new high school opened, it had a total of 700 ninth- and 10th-graders, White said, and it operated in portables behind Weightman Middle School. Wiregrass Ranch relocated to its current campus over winter break.

By its third year, the high school was operating at its 1,650-student capacity.

Its enrollment has swelled through the years, causing the school to add portables, and for two years operated on a 10-period day — to limit the number of students on campus at one time.

Its enrollment also has been reduced with boundary shifts — which were adamantly opposed by parents and students, alike.

Now, the enrollment stands at 2,078 — but the campus feels more spacious this year because about 800 students have opted to learn remotely due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.

Lessons she’s learned through the years
Besides being an educator, White has been a learner, too.

As a teacher intern, her supervising teacher gave her two pieces of advice.

“Piece No. 1:  Stay out of the teachers’ lounge because that’s where negativity breeds.

“And, Piece No. 2: When you don’t enjoy it anymore, get out.

“I tell people to this day: ‘If you’re not enjoying it, why are you staying?’”

She also learned how to manage her emotions.

When she was an acting assistant principal, she said, “I remember multiple times I got very emotional and she (Dr. Reed) told me, ‘Principals don’t cry.’”

White said she has a slightly different message for the people she mentors: “I say, ‘Principals do cry, but with the door shut.’”

She thinks her years in the classroom have helped her to be a better principal.

“You need to be able to relate to what teachers are going through,” she explained.

And, as a leader of a large school, she understands the importance of teamwork.

“There’s no way that I can do this job without the team I have around me. That’s everybody from my custodial, my non-instructional staff, my teachers,” White said.

She has confidence in them.

“They’re all smart people. So, they know what’s going to work for them and what works for their kids. So, I give them the autonomy to decide how that’s going to work,” she said.

Myriad decisions must be made, but White said: “Ultimately, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the kids.”

So much has changed over the years, but students are essentially the same, the principal said.

“They just want somebody to care. They just want to know that they’re making somebody proud.”

Published February 03, 2021

Filed Under: Education, Local News, People Profiles, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: Andy Frelick, Denise Nicholas, Dunedin High School, Dunedin Highland Middle School, Hillsborough Association of School Administrators, Mansfield Boulevard, Marita Noe, Mildred Reed, Pasco County Council PTA, Pasco County Schools, Ray Bonti, Robyn White, Shirley Holm, University of West Florida, Weightman Middle School, Wesley Chapel High, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High

Locals make impact during 2020 college football season

January 26, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

The 2020 college football season was anything but ordinary, mostly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Myriad schedules were delayed and abbreviated, countless games were canceled, and many lower-level programs opted to punt on the year entirely, with sights of restarting action in 2021.

Amid all the obstacles, however, more than a handful of athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area suited up and made significant impacts on the NCAA Division I FBS stage.

Here’s a closer look at some of the notable performers with connections to the area.

Donovan Jennings
College: University of South Florida, junior left tackle
Local tie: Gaither High School

Donovan Jennings started in all seven games he played during University of South Florida’s nine-game season — missing two games due to COVID-19 protocols.

USF left tackle Donovan Jennings is a Gaither High product. (Courtesy of University of South Florida athletics)

One of the 6-foot-5, 338-pound lineman’s brightest spots came in the Bulls’ Nov. 27 season finale against the University of Central Florida, paving the way for his team’s offense to post 646 yards of total offense, including 242 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Jennings generally has been lauded by coaches for his pass protection skills and effectiveness in the run game.

Thanks to a rare combination of quick feet, balance and strength, Jennings often is tasked with blocking opponent’s top pass-rushers in one-on-one situations.

Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Jennings will be one of the team’s most experienced members, having appeared in 29 games with 19 starts.

Jennings surprisingly didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school, as size limitations in youth leagues prevented him from playing the sport.

But, he blossomed into an All-State player in four short years at Gaither, graduating in 2018.

While he garnered scholarship offers from several Division I FBS schools, Jennings, ultimately picked USF — a mere 7.5 miles from his prep stomping grounds.

“Playing in my hometown is great, seeing my friends and family come to all the games to support me with all I do,” Jennings said in a 2019 interview with USF’s official athletics website, GoUSFBulls.com. “I love putting on a show for all the fans and all the people I played in front of in high school. For my (former) coaches to be able to come out and see what type of player I’ve grown into is a good thing for me.”

Devontres Odoms-Dukes
College: University of South Florida, fifth-year senior wide receiver
Local tie: New Tampa resident, Wharton High School

New Tampa resident and Wharton High alum Devontres Odoms-Dukes wrapped up his final season at USF. (Courtesy of University of South Florida athletics)

Devontres Odoms-Dukes saved the best for last.

Playing in all nine of USF’s games and making six starts, Devontres Odoms-Dukes registered 24 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns — all career highs and among team leaders.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Dukes, too, went out on a high note in his final college football game on Nov. 27 against UCF (University of Central Florida) — tallying five catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Making all those figures more impressive is that Odoms-Dukes had to navigate playing for no less than four quarterbacks during the course of the season.

Meanwhile, his five-year run at USF hasn’t always been easy or stable, given he’s played for three different head coaches during that time — Willie Taggart, Charlie Strong and Jeff Scott, respectively.

Odoms-Dukes now has his eyes set on the 2021 NFL Draft, where he hopes to gain traction with his rare size at the receiver spot.

Prior to his USF tenure, Odoms-Dukes played two seasons at Wharton High, developing into an All-Hillsborough County honorable mention performer under then coach David Mitchell.

As a senior in 2015, he posted 41 catches for 780 yards and 14 touchdowns, guiding the Wildcats to an 8-2 mark that included dominating wins over the likes of Gaither, Freedom and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Odoms-Dukes was born in Pensacola and spent much of his childhood in the Fayetteville area in North Carolina before moving to New Tampa and finishing school at Wharton.

His parents are decorated military veterans who served in the U.S. Army and retired with Sergeant First Class status; they were deployed in areas including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Another fun tidbit: Odoms-Dukes is related to 13-year NBA veteran Reggie Evans, who played for six franchises from 2002 to 2015.

Shane McGough
College: Florida International University, redshirt senior center
Local tie: Gaither High School

Shane McGough’s final season as a Florida International University Panther wasn’t most ideal — given he played for a squad that went winless in a five-game season, cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIU guard Shane McGough is a Gaither High School alum. (Courtesy of Florida International University athletics)

But the 6-foot-2, 302-pound center was one of the few positives, a team captain who pushed bodies for an offense that averaged 160.4 rushing yards. His production up front in the trenches earned him a spot on the All-Conference USA Honorable Mention team.

All told, McGough played in 40 career games, moving between the guard and center positions. He is noted for being part of an offensive line that allowed just 14 sacks in 2019 and a school-record low eight sacks in 2018, which ranked first in the conference and third overall in the nation.

Aside from his natural strength and line-moving abilities, McGough earns positive marks from coaches and teammates for his work ethic and lead-by-example demeanor.

FIU offensive line coach Jose Rodriguez offered a glowing review of McGough on the school’s official athletics website, FIUSports.com.

“Shane is part of a dying breed, as a guy who just gets it,” Rodriguez said. “He’s played and had successful experience. It’s one thing to just play and get your butt beat…but he’s had successful experience and knows what it takes from a preparation standpoint or in terms of training in the offseason.

“He also has great leadership qualities because when he speaks, people listen. Part of that is because he has so much experience and part of that is his demeanor, in general. Having a guy like that in your room is great, because you can always use him as an example and someone you can lean on when you want something done. Him being unselfish and a team player is great, as well, because it just makes everyone want to listen and do as he does.”

McGough is now readying for the 2021 NFL Draft, appearing in various all-star games such as Tropical Bowl and College Gridiron Showcase.

In chasing his pro football dreams, McGough could get an opportunity to play alongside or against his older brother Alex, a seventh-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who’s bounced around the league as a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

At Gaither, McGough was a three-year varsity letter winner and a two-way player seeing action at offensive and defensive line. He earned All-Hillsborough and All-Western Conference recognition along the way, too.

Interestingly, McGough was rather lightly recruited coming out of high school in 2015, perhaps because he was an undersized lineman by Division I FBS standards at the time, hovering around 250 pounds.

Scott Patchan
College: Colorado State University, graduate defensive end
Local tie: Freedom High School

Amid a season cut in half because of COVID-19, Scott Patchan sure made the most of his opportunities in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Colorado State defensive lineman Scott Patchan played his first three prep seasons at Freedom High School before transferring to IMG Academy his senior year. (Courtesy of Colorado State University athletics)

In just four games, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound edge rusher tallied 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss overall, adding 22 total tackles and three quarterback hurries — earning first-team All-Mountain West honors in the process.

Moreover, Patchan won on 24% of his pass rushes, securing a pressure on 19% – both figures leading Mountain West players by 3.5 percentage points, according to metrics from the scouting website Pro Football Focus.

Patchan will have further opportunity to add to his resume, as he’s stated he will return to the program in 2021 with the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic.

Colorado State defensive line coach Antoine Smith underscored Patchan’s qualities in a profile piece for the university’s official athletics website, CSURams.com.

“He doesn’t leave anything to chance,” Smith said. “Some guys talk. He doesn’t talk. He just comes and works every day and he’s very passionate about how he works and takes care of his body. He is a true athlete who loves performing. That’s pretty awesome.”

Patchan transferred to Colorado State after spending the prior five seasons at the University of Miami, where he battled two season-ending knee surgeries and even made a position switch to tight end before moving back to his natural defensive end spot.

Locally, Patchan played his first three years of prep ball at Freedom High before transferring to Bradenton’s IMG Academy for his senior season.

His final run at Freedom in 2013 proved most productive, as he totaled 8.5 sacks, 56 tackles and 24 tackles for loss. He went on to become one of the state’s most highly-touted prospects in his recruiting class, being courted by Florida State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA and others.

Gridiron talent certainly runs deep in Patchan’s family. Patchan’s father Matt III won national titles with the Hurricanes in 1983 and ’87; His older brother, Matt II, was an offensive lineman at the University of Florida and Boston College.

Michael Penix Jr., quarterback
College: Indiana University, redshirt sophomore
Local tie: Dade City native, Pasco High School

Michael Penix Jr., was rapidly becoming a household name in the big-time college football lexicon until a torn ACL in his right knee prematurely ended his redshirt sophomore campaign in late November.

Indiana quarterback Mike Penix Jr., a Dade City native who played at Pasco High School for two seasons. (File)

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound left-handed signal-caller ended the year with six games played, spurring Indiana University to one of its best starts in program history with a 5-1 mark and No. 12 nationally ranking in the process.

Penix’s individual stats were likewise flashy — posting a 56.4% completion rate for 1,645 passing yards, and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions and two rushing touchdowns — solid enough for second-team All-Big Ten honors.

There were several notable moments along the way for the Dade City native, too.

Penix was responsible for a 2-point conversion that lifted the Hoosiers over Penn State in overtime of the season opener. Meanwhile, he passed for a career-high 491 yards and five touchdowns Nov. 21 in Indiana’s narrow 42-35 loss to No. 4 Ohio State. The 491 passing yards were second-most in program history, trailing only Richard Lagow’s 496-yard output in a 2016 win over Wake Forest.

The ability to stay on the field has remained an issue, however.

Injuries have cut short all three of Penix’s seasons at Indiana. He suffered a clavicle injury in November 2019 that required surgery. He also tore his ACL in his right knee in 2018.

Prior to his move north to Bloomington, Penix played his freshman and sophomore prep seasons at Pasco High School in 2014 and 2015, then transferred to Tampa Bay Technical High School for his junior and senior years. He was a baseball, basketball, and track and field standout along the way, too.

Also notable: Penix’s father, Mike Sr., was an All-State tailback/defensive back at Pasco High in the early ’90s.

Raymond Woodie III
College: Florida State University, sophomore defensive back
Local tie: Carrollwood Day School/Wiregrass Ranch High School

Raymond Woodie III enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign for Florida State University, compiling more playing time and production for a team in transition under new head coach Mike Norvell.

Florida State sophomore defensive back Raymond Woodie III — who has now transferred to Cal-Berkeley — played his freshman and sophomore prep seasons at Carrollwood Day School, before moving to three other schools, including Wiregrass Ranch High School. (Courtesy of Florida State University athletics)

Suiting up for each of the team’s nine games and making two starts, the 6-foot, 194-pound defensive back totaled 25 tackles, 2.5 for loss with 0.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup. Among the notable showings was a game-high seven tackles at Louisville on Oct. 24.

It was all a step in the right direction from his freshman year — where he appeared in 10 games and recorded nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss with 1.0 sacks and one forced fumble.

Despite an enhanced role at FSU, Woodie has opted to take his talents to the West Coast — recently transferring to the University of California-Berkeley.

Woodie joins the Cal program this month with three seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining, which includes the additional year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to all fall sports athletes due to the effect of COVID-19 on the 2020 campaign.

“We are excited to have Raymond join our program,” Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said of Woodie in a news release from the Cal athletics department. “He is a talented football player and adds significant experience to our defensive backfield. I expect him to have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on our team.”

Before entering the college ranks, Woodie experienced quite the circuitous high school career, where he attended four different schools in as many years.

Woodie played his high school freshman and sophomore seasons at Carrollwood Day, working at quarterback, wide receiver and safety, earning All-Hillsborough County honors along the way.

Woodie then attended Wiregrass Ranch High and went through spring and summer team football workouts leading into his junior season, but wound up finishing his prep days at Sheldon High (Eugene, Oregon) and Florida State University High (Tallahassee). (These far-reaching moves were a result of following his father’s budding college coaching journey at University of Oregon and Florida State, respectively.)

From Carrollwood Day onward, Woodie emerged as a blue-chip prospect, designated as a four-star recruit in the 2019 class by ESPN and Rivals.com. He was ranked as high as the nation’s No. 9 safety and No. 158 player overall by ESPN.

Published January 27, 2021

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Carrollwood Day School, college football, Colorado State University, Devontres Odoms-Dukes, Florida International University, Florida State University, Freedom High School, Gaither High School, Indiana University, Michael Penix Jr., onovan Jennings, Pasco High School, Raymond Woodie III, Scott Patchan, Shane McGough, University of South Florida, Wharton High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

January 12, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

High school coaches from Pasco County Schools recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2020-2021 fall sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West divisions.

The following high schools from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were represented in the East: Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

Here is a listing of boys team and individual recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area for cross-country, football, golf, and swimming & diving.

(NOTE: The Laker/Lutz News will publish the Girls All-Conference listings in its Jan. 20 edition.)

Fall Sports (Boys)

It’s no surprise the Sunlake Seahawks was named Sunshine Athletic Conference East’s Cross-Country Boys Team of the Year for the 2020-2021 season. The Seawhawks captured conference, district and regional titles, then finished state runner-up at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 3A championship meet. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Cross-Country
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randal Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Colby Robbins, Sunlake

First-Team
Colby Robbins, Sunlake, junior
Alex Pena, Sunlake, sophomore
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Zach Poekert, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Cade Whitfield, Sunlake, senior
Cason Meyer, Sunlake, junior
Andres Alfonso-Herrera, Sunlake, junior

Second-Team
Romal Estemcdonald, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Brandon Castillo, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Max Goserud, Sunlake, junior
Jaime Candelaria, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Nathan Lee, Sunlake, sophomore
Joseph Obradovich, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Dalton Sellengs, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Honorable Mention
William Poe, Zephyrhills, freshman
Cole Couch, Wesley Chapel, junior
River Cole, Pasco, junior

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs varsity football team finished the 2020 season with an 8-3 mark and an appearance in the Class 5A regional semifinal. The Bulldogs — after dropping its first two games to start the season — reeled off eight straight wins until falling to Orlando’s Jones High in the playoffs. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School Athletics Department)

SAC East All-Conference Football
Team Champion: Zephyrhills
Offensive Player of the Year: Rocco Becht, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Mitch Hammond, Sunlake

First-Team Offense
QB: Rocco Becht, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
RB: Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, senior
RB: Kenny Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
WR: Bryson Rodgers, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
WR: Nehemiah Morgan, Wesley Chapel, junior
TE: Grady Clower, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Isaac Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, senior
OL: Gabe Thompson, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Quinn Hewitt, Sunlake, junior
OL: Brian Ashmore, Zephyrhills, senior
OL: Kaleb Rivera, Wesley Chapel, senior

First-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, junior
DL: Zavian McKinnon, Land O’ Lakes, senior
DL: Dajuan McCullough, Zephyrhills, senior
DL: Chris Pressley, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
LB: Gabe Barnes, Pasco, senior
LB: Mitch Hammond, Sunlake, junior
LB: Theotis Smith, Zephyrhills
LB: Aydon Roysdon, Wesley Chapel, junior
DB: Julian Galdos, Sunlake, senior
DB: Grady Clower, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
DB: Nick Sheldon, Zephyrhills, junior
P: Spencer DeLessio, Sunlake, senior
K: Colton Corrao, Cypress Creek, junior
Utility: Tre Gallimore, Zephyrhills, senior

Second-Team Offense
QB: Owen Walls, Cypress Creek, junior
RB: Jaylin Thomas, Zephyrhills, junior
RB: Jaylan Blake, Wesley Chapel, junior
WR: Dontrell Clerkley, Cypress Creek, junior
WR: Merrick Simmons, Cypress Creek, junior
TE: Owen Libby, Wesley Chapel, senior
OL: Paul-Andre Tre, Cypress Creek, senior
OL: Briac Riles, Wesley Chapel, junior
OL: Dajuan McCullough, Zephyrhills, senior
OL: Tucker Schwab, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
OL: Jarrian Galyan, Zephyrhills, senior

Second-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Jaden Haynes, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
DL: Vincent Tre, Cypress Creek, sophomore
DL: Will Arnett, Sunlake, senior
DL: Tyree Thomas, Wesley Chapel, senior
LB: Josh Poleon, Wesley Chape, sophomore
LB: Larence Graham, Zephyrhills, sophomore
LB: Matt Hensley, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
LB: Amir Burgess, Pasco, senior
DB: Broden Guirl, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
DB: Jonathan Lee, Pasco, senior
DB: Clayton Cornelius Zephyrhills, senior
P: Zachary Hammer, Land O’ Lakes, senior
K: Daniel Lester, Sunlake, junior
Utility: Owen Libby, Wesley Chapel, senior

Honorable Mention(s)
Manuel Torres, Pasco, senior
Tyler Adcock, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Garrett Meredith, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Craig Kailimai, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Gabriel Kolakoff, Cypress Creek, senior
Collin Ostapchuk, Cypress Creek, senior
Mike Barber, Zephyrhills, senior

Cypress Creek’s Connor Newbold, right, was the only freshman boys golfer to earn All-Sunshine Athletic Conference East honors, as a first-team selection. Newbold also was an individual qualifier at the FHSAA Class 2A state championships in November. Newbold stands with Cypress Creek golf coach Rob Patterson. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Golf
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Bob Kamps, Sunlake
Golfer of the Year: TJ Floberg, Pasco

First-Team
TJ Floberg, Pasco, senior
Connor Newbold, Cypress Creek, freshman
Max Barile, Sunlake, senior
Cody Williams, Sunlake, junior
Scott Atkins, Pasco, senior

Second-Team
Fab Laude, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Michael Depue, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Logan Jackson, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Nathan Dube, Cypress Creek, senior
Trevor Myers, Zephyrhills, senior

Honorable Mention
Chase Hanson, Wesley Chapel, senior

Land O’ Lakes senior Zuri Ramsey was named Sunshine Athletic Conference East Boys Swimmer of the Year, for a second straight season. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Swimming and Diving
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Jen Gaete, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes
Diver of the Year: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
200 medley relay: Land O’ Lakes (1:37.12) — Michael McCloskey, sophomore; Griffin Sutek, senior; Garret McNab, freshman; Zuri Ramsey, senior

200 freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, senior (1:42.43)

200 individual medley: Noah Porter, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (2:00.78)

50 freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, senior (20.51)

100 butterfly: Noah Porter, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (53.84)

100 freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, senior (45.87)

500 freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress, senior (4:40.35)

Land O’ Lakes senior Mason Gandy was named Sunshine Athletic Conference East Boys Diver of the Year, for a second straight year. (File)

200 freestyle relay: Land O’ Lakes (1:30.19) — Michael McCloskey, sophomore; Griffin Sutek, senior; Garret McNab, freshman; Zuri Ramsey, senior

100 backstroke: Michael McCloskey, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore (57.71)

100 breaststroke: Griffin Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, senior (59.53)

400 freestyle: Wiregrass Ranch (3:19.06) — Manny Silva, senior; Noah Porter, junior; Matt Gomez, senior; Kevin Chen, junior

Diver: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes, senior (430.45)

Second-Team
200 medley relay: Sunlake (1:45.80) — Caiden DeTillio, Sunlake, freshman; Alex Thai, sophomore; Jackson Houck, sophomore; Tien Duong, sophomore

200 freestyle: Aidyn Rosochowicz, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

200 individual medley: Tien Duong, Sunlake, sophomore

50 freestyle: Alex Thai, Sunlake, sophomore (23.05)

100 butterfly: RB Childers, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (59.84)

100 freestyle: Aidyn Rosochowicz, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore (54.65)

500 freestyle: Clay Ballash, Cypress Creek, freshman (5:11.15)

200 freestyle relay: Sunlake (1:36.06) — Caiden DeTillio, freshman; Alex Thai, sophomore; Jackson Houck, sophomore; Tien Duong, sophomore

100 backstroke: Caiden DeTillio, Sunlake, freshman (59.54)

100 breaststroke: Alex Thai, Sunlake, sophomore (1:02.35)

400 freestyle relay: Land O’ Lakes (3:48.41) — Aidyn Rosochowicz, sophomore; Liam Grubaugh, sophomore; Krishnavamsi Chundi, sophomore; Sebastian Arbelaez, senior

Diver: Jace Beckwith, Cypress Creek, freshman (358.95)

Published January 13, 2021

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Cypress Creek High School, Land O' Lakes High School, Pasco County Schools, Pasco High School, SAC All-Conference, Sunlake High School, Sunshine Athletic Conference, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School

MLB playoffs are here, featuring these locals

September 29, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

This rapid-fire 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has been anything but ordinary — from the condensed 60-game slate to the implementation of novel rules, such as expanded rosters, universal designated hitter, seven-inning doubleheaders, and runner-on-second rule in extra innings.

That’s not even mentioning the myriad health and safety protocols pro baseball organizations have been forced to navigate amid the COVID-19 pandemic — which included all games being played in stadiums without fans.

Maybe one of the positive benefits of the new 16-team expanded playoffs format is more opportunity for several locals with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to showcase their skills and abilities in front of a national audience, with hopes of winning a World Series title this fall.

Here’s a closer look at the hometown products who may be seen this week and beyond throughout the postseason, which runs Sept. 29 through mid-October:

Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is finding his groove after offseason knee surgery, for the San Diego Padres (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Austin Adams, San Diego Padres, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School

Twenty-nine-year-old Austin Adams earned the benefit of being traded from the losing Seattle Mariners to the playoff-bound Padres (No. 4 seed National League) at the Aug. 31 trade deadline.

As it turned out, Adams’ first action in 2020 actually didn’t come until he put on a Padres uniform, as he was still nursing offseason knee surgery.

The righty looked reliable in his three late-season appearances with San Diego, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 4 innings pitched, exhibiting top-level four-seam fastball velocity and spin rates, to go along with a signature slider.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school success led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that had its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.

Other MLB players hailing from the Zephyrhills area are Dave Eiland (1988-2000) and Domonic Brown (2010-2015).

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product (File)

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School

Twenty-eight-year-old John Gant presently is on the team’s 10-day injured list (right groin tightness) and likely won’t make an appearance unless the Cardinals make a deep postseason run.

However, he played an integral bullpen role as a late-inning reliever and setup man for a Cardinals (No. 5 seed, National League) organization forced to play 11 doubleheaders after a rash of COVID-19 cases forced them to miss 19 days of competition in July and August.

In 17 appearances, the fifth-year MLB vet went 0-3, but compiled a career-best 2.40 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, striking out 18 batters in 15 innings pitched.

Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and suffering just three losses in four years. He also was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams, and also served as scorekeeper for the girls basketball program, which was coached by his father, John Sr., then a science teacher at the school.

Gant signed with the New York Mets out of high school and spent five years in the minors before making his big league debut in 2016 (then for the Atlanta Braves).

Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, outfielder
Local tie: New Tampa resident/business owner

New Tampa resident and business owner Matt Joyce is going strong at 36 years old, for the Miami Marlins. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Thirty-six-year-old Matt Joyce has played a key leadership and mostly everyday role for a Marlins (No. 6 seed, National League) organization that not only clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2003, but also had to overcome an early season COVID-19 outbreak that had 18 players test positive — forcing the team to find reinforcements in its minor league system and free agent market.

The corner outfielder began the season on the injured list, but went on to post a .252/.351/.331 line with two homers and 14 RBIs in 46 games.

In the playoffs, expect Joyce to continue to get consistent playing time, particularly against right-handed pitching — which he’s made his lengthy career on.

Through born and raised in Brandon, the 12-year MLB veteran has since made New Tampa home, living in the Hunter’s Green area and recently opening an F45 Training fitness center chain at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve neighborhood shopping center.

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado is a Gaither High product (File)

Twenty-five-year-old Oscar Mercado has struggled mightily, offensively in his sophomore MLB season —posting a .128/.174/.174 line and just two extra-base hits in 86 at-bats across 36 games, as he dealt with swing mechanic issues all year long.

It’s a far cry from a showy rookie season in 2018 when he batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.
Even with his struggles at the plate, Mercado has provided defensive value in the outfield and with his speed on the base paths — skills that could be put on display in the playoffs for the Indians (No. 4 seed, American League)
A native of Columbia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old. He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns. Following a storied prep career, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after being a second round draft pick in 2013.

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Nate Pearson is an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School product (File)

Twenty-four-year-old Nate Pearson entered the season as one of the most prized prospects in baseball, thanks to a fastball that regularly touches triple digits combined with multiple refined breaking balls.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander missed over a month of the season because of elbow tightness, but seems ready for the postseason after picking up his first career win on Sept. 25 — firing 1.2 scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles and hitting 101.5 miles per hour on the radar gun. He finished the year with a 6.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 18 innings.
The Odessa native starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record. He later became a first round draft pick in 2017 out of Central College of Florida in Ocala.

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

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Gaither High School

Kevin Cash, the 42-year-old skipper, seemingly has pulled all the right strings for a Rays (No. 1 seed, American League) club that went 40-20 despite a rash of injuries to its pitching staff (they had as many as 12 pitchers on the injured list at one point).

With that, Cash appears to be a front-runner for the AL Manager of the Year award, navigating a young, unheralded roster and putting players in position to succeed via unorthodox lineups, bullpens, platoons, defensive positioning and shifts, and more. The sixth-year manager also receives high marks for his leadership in galvanizing a clubhouse that features so many players from different countries, cultures and backgrounds.

Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz. He first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.
Cash later starred at Gaither High School, penning that into a successful college run at Florida State University and eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher mostly.

Visit MLB.com for updated playoff schedules, and how and when to see these locals in action.

Published September 30, 2020

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Gaither High SchoolMajor League Baseball, John Gant, Kevin Cash, Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, MLB, Nate Pearson, New Tampa, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School

If you want to help kids, Kiwanis Club wants you

September 8, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A new Kiwanis Club in Wesley Chapel is looking for civic-minded people who want to help build leadership-related activities for school-age children.

“If I asked you, ‘Would you like to be part of an organization that gives all of its money to children and the development of children’s programs,’ how can you say no?’’ said Joe Meyer, a Sarasota-based Kiwanis member who specializes in building and maintaining clubs.

The Kiwanis Club has four new Tampa Bay clubs forming, including one in Wesley Chapel. Florida has 240 adult chapters with approximately 6,900 members.

In the United States, the organization raises more than $100 million annually and dedicates it to 150,000 community service projects, which translates into 18.5-million service hours.

Kiwanis Club in Wesley Chapel is seeking new members.

The clubs are involved in all sorts of public service works.

They have built all-access playgrounds, restocked libraries, created food pantries, bought medical equipment, hosted diversity fairs, and stuffed backpacks with school supplies.

Ed Anderson, a Wesley Chapel realtor and Kiwanis member since 1977, is serving as advisor for the new Wesley Chapel club.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of its organizational meetings to be held via Zoom video conferencing, but Anderson is encouraged by the initial response.

“Wesley Chapel is such a fast-growing area, one of the fastest-growing places in Florida, that it just seems like a natural to establish a club that could really grow,’’ said Anderson, who has most recently served as secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Carrollwood. “Even though Wesley Chapel is a fairly affluent area, there are still folks who need things.

“Once you’re a Kiwanian, it becomes part of your life. Once a Kiwanian, always a Kiwanian. You’re able to impact the community and make a difference. There are many networking groups and business groups. They are great, but their purpose is to build businesses. In Kiwanis, your sole objective is giving back to the community — specifically kids.’’

What are some of the Kiwanis projects?

The Terrific Kids bumper stickers, as in “I have a Terrific Kid at Wesley Chapel High School,’’ is a Kiwanis project.

The Key Clubs that exist in most high schools, emphasizing leadership, character development and service? That’s Kiwanis.

The BUG (Bring Up Grades) programs that recognize students who raise their grade to an acceptable range and offer certificates, buttons and parties? That’s Kiwanis, too.

Kiwanis also is about people such as Alex Dang, a Wiregrass Ranch High School graduate and a University of South Florida freshman who’s majoring in bio-medical sciences. He has designs on medical school and becoming a pediatrician.

In his sophomore year at Wiregrass Ranch, Dang joined the Key Club.

“The comparison of myself from the beginning of high school compared to now is so dramatic,’’ said Dang, 18. “I’ve learned about social networking, communication skills and public speaking. I was a Key Club board member, so I had to speak and become a leader.

“Before, I didn’t really pursue any of those skills. Key Club gave me a push in that direction and really put my life on a different course.’’

Dang has joined the Kiwanis Club of Wesley Chapel.

“Wesley Chapel is such a tight-knit community, so I really think a lot of people are going to join and participate in the activities and sponsorships,’’ Dang said. “The best thing about Kiwanis Club is anyone can join, no matter what skill set you have. In fact, it’s even better if you have a different skill set because that makes the club more diverse and strong.’’

Meyer, a membership-building specialist, said all walks of life are welcome.

“We get bankers, real estate professionals, insurance people, automotive repair, sales people, retailers, school employees … you name it,’’ Meyer said. “It’s all about getting people to work together and helping children in the community. You have to have a big heart and the desire to help kids. There’s great camaraderie in the club and the rewards are immense.’’

For any men or women interested in the opportunity, the Kiwanis Club of Wesley Chapel’s Facebook page summed it up:

“Kids are curious, lovable and hilarious. They are also wild, impatient and vulnerable. Help us look out for kids in Wesley Chapel and around the globe.’’

For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Wesley Chapel, contact Ed Anderson at (813) 841-2773 or .

By Joey Johnston

Published September 09, 2020

Filed Under: Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: Alex Dang, Ed Anderson, Key Club, Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis Club of Carrollwood, University of South Florida, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School

Cypress Creek Middle has ‘first’ First Day

September 1, 2020 By B.C. Manion

When school bells rang in a new school year in Pasco County on Aug. 24, the day had special meaning at Cypress Creek Middle School, 8845 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

It wasn’t the first time middle school students had attended the Cypress Creek campus on the Old Pasco Road, but it was the first time they were heading to classes in a school built specifically for them.

Cypress Creek Middle School Principal Tim Light was eager to welcome students to the school he leads, on Old Pasco Road. Middle schoolers had been on the campus before, but this was the first First Day of School in a school built especially for them. (B.C. Manion)

Middle school students began attending classes at a shared campus for middle and high school students in 2017, because the district couldn’t afford to build both a high school and middle school — as it had originally intended.

Construction began on the $43.5 million middle school building in 2019, and now the middle schoolers have a place that’s their own.

The enthusiasm that typically accompanies a new school opening was muted this year, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The school is following strict safety protocols.

They include:

  • Everyone on campus must wear a mask.
  • Parents drop off students at a specific place.
  • Students are directed to walk one-way down hallways, in the main classroom building.
  • Desks and chairs are spread out in classrooms.

Other safety steps include encouraging social distancing between people, placing some lunch tables outdoors to prevent cafeteria crowding, and turning off the water fountains — except to fill water bottles.

The district also kept parents off school campuses, because of concerns about COVID-19, and it kept media off, too, with the exception of allowing a special tour of Cypress Creek Middle on its opening day.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd escorted representatives of The Laker/Lutz News and The Tampa Bay Times around the new school’s campus.

Principal Tim Light shared a few thoughts, as he stood in front of a giant painting of a coyote, the school’s mascot.

“I’m very excited,” Light said, noting he’d been planning for the school’s opening for months.

Unlike other middle schools in Pasco County Schools, this one boasts a black box theater, which will give students a chance to develop their imagination and creativity — and offer a venue for some community shows, when the pandemic lifts.

“Honestly, I never thought this day was going to get here,” Light said.

“I just want to see what the day is going to bring. Get these kids in here and get them going,” Light said.

Gadd was clearly delighted, as he showed off the district’s newest school.

“It’s really a beautiful school, the way it’s laid out,” the deputy superintendent said.

Cypress Creek Middle has the capacity of 1,600 students. Its opening reduces crowding at John Long Middle School. It also provides relief to Wiregrass Ranch High School — as Cypress Creek Middle students previously on campus shift over to the new middle school, creating more capacity at Cypress Creek High.

Beyond the normal features found at middle schools, this one has a black box theater and a suite of dance, chorus and orchestra rooms.

“It’s a space like no other in Pasco County,” said Peter Nason, the school’s theater teacher. “It is a jewel in the crown of this county, I think.

“It has space for the kids to be creative. For them to learn. For them to realize, really, what theater is, and it goes beyond the classroom,” Nason said.

Gadd is delighted by the opportunities the theater program will create.

“I first saw one of these, probably in a school 10 years ago. I’ve been dreaming about building one since then,” Gadd said.

“It’s an incredible space. It’s a dream space,” Nason told Gadd.

Gadd said: “I look forward to the first show.”

Nason responded: “I look forward to you seeing the first show.”

Two new public charter schools
Cypress Creek Middle was the only new traditional public school opened in Pasco County for the 2020-2021 school, but two new public charter schools also opened. Innovation Preparatory Academy opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 7800 Avery Scope Way in Wesley Chapel. Pinecrest Academy also opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 33347 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Published September 02, 2020

Filed Under: Education, Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: COVID-19, Cypress Creek High School, Cypress Creek Middle School, John Long MIddle School, Old Pasco Road, Peter Nason, Pinecrest Academy, Preparatory Academy, Ray Gadd, Tim Light, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch High School

Families Will Soon Begin Moving Into Persimmon Park In Wesley Chapel

August 25, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Afrika and Dawvel Brooks researched just about every homebuilder in Tampa Bay before deciding ICI Homes was the best one for their family.

“We wanted the ability to move walls and customize our new home, and ICI Homes was the only builder to welcome structural changes, and to do so at an affordable cost,” said Afrika.

The Brooks family discovered ICI Homes in the Asturia community in Odessa, and learned that the builder had just opened a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park.

“While we loved ICI Homes’ floor plans in Odessa, Wesley Chapel was a better location for my family,” said Afrika. “It is the middle of so many things — shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and also close to hospitals and health care services. Especially for our two teenage daughters, building our new home in Wesley Chapel was a huge draw.”

The Brooks family is one of the first homebuyers in the new Persimmon Park community in Wesley Chapel. Shown here are Afrika and Dawvel Brooks, and their 14-year-old daughter, Amaya. (Courtesy of Mercedes Brooks)

The Brooks family is one of the first to buy in Persimmon Park, which is located off Bruce B. Downs within the master-planned development of Wiregrass Ranch. The community is directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, and across the street from a new $200 million hospital and health care complex being built by BayCare Health Systems.

“My husband and I both work in the health care field, so being so close to two hospitals is very attractive,” said Afrika, who recently retired from the U.S. Air Force. (Dawvel is still active duty and based at MacDill Air Force Base.)

The family choose the two-story Primrose floor plan, which, at over 2,400 square feet, is the largest home ICI Homes builds in Persimmon Park. All homes in the community have two-car garages in the rear, which are accessed by private alleyways and provide ample parking.

Afrika loves that the master suite in her new home is downstairs, as is a second bedroom and adjacent bath that is ideal for an office. Her girls’ bedrooms are upstairs with a shared bath, along with a large game room.

“Because ICI Homes can make structural changes very affordably, we decided to add a studio/bonus room above our garage to give our family the additional space we desired,” said Afrika. “I’ve been told that our bonus room idea has worked out so well, that other buyers are adding it to their homes.”

The Brooks’ home is in the drywall stage of construction, and the family expects to move into their new home in November.

“The entire homebuilding experience with ICI Homes has been excellent,” said Afrika. “From our salesperson, Carmen Worrels, to the architects who added our bonus room, to our project manager and customer service team. Everyone has been so helpful, nice and responsive.”

“In addition to Persimmon Park’s desirable location, buyers are excited that the community’s amenities will be completed in late November,” adds Greg Jones, Tampa Division Manager for ICI Homes.

Amenities include a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area. Coming soon are dog parks for small and large breeds, and trails that wind through the community and connect to the Wiregrass Ranch trail system.

In Persimmon Park’s first phase, ICI Homes is building 40 homes; at build out, 97 homes. Prices begin in the high $200s, and buyers can choose from two, one-story and four, two-story homes, with more plans coming soon. There are four inventory homes available for families needing to move quickly.

“Our cottage-style floor plans feel open and airy with lots of windows, and exemplify Florida’s casual lifestyle,” says Jones. “Our homes are designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes.”

Jones adds that many builder upgrades are standard features for ICI Homes, including 6-foot windows, 8-foot doors and energy-efficient construction that boasts a 50-SEER rating. Persimmon Park offers low CDD fees at less than $2,000 a year, and its affordable HOA fee includes internet and cable television for just $90/month.

Families with school-age children are drawn to Persimmon Park because the community is zoned to the area’s highest-rated schools —Wiregrass Elementary, Dr. John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High.

ICI Homes is currently offering an exceptionally low interest rate of just 2.75% on 30-year mortgages, when using the builder’s preferred lenders. A lower interest rate increases a buyer’s spending power and allows them to more quickly build equity in their home.

Persimmon Park is the first Wesley Chapel community for ICI Homes, which is celebrating 40 years of business. Based in Daytona Beach, the company is family owned and managed, and is proud of its very personalized, no-pressure approach to sales.

Published August 26, 2020

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, Afrika Brooks, Asturia, BayCare Health Systems, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Dawvel Brooks, Dr. John Long Middle, Greg Jones, ICI Homes, MacDill Air Force Base, Persimmon Park, The Shops at Wiregrass, U.S. Air Force, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Elementary, Wiregrass Ranch, Wiregrass Ranch High School

School projects address district needs

August 4, 2020 By B.C. Manion

A global pandemic has cast uncertainty regarding what will happen in the coming school year, but the work goes on to build, expand and renovate schools in the Pasco County school district.

Rapid growth in recent years has caused school crowding. And, anticipated residential construction has created a need for schools in previously undeveloped areas.

Cypress Creek Middle School in Wesley Chapel will have its inaugural first day of school when the 2020-2021 school year begins. (B.C. Manion)

Across the district, enrollment is expected to increase by slightly more than 1,900 students for this coming school year, and that includes charter schools, according to Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district.

It remains unclear if that projection will come to fruition, in light of impacts from COVID-19 on residential construction.

The district’s enrollment will grow — but, it’s not clear how much, Williams said during a school board workshop on the district’s capital improvement plan.

Numerous projects are planned in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, according to Williams’ presentation.

The planning director also provided an overview of schools expected to face another crowded year in 2020-2021.

Construction is underway at the Starkey Ranch K-8 School, near the intersection of Long Spur and Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa. The project, which includes private and public partners, will feature a school, a library and a cultural center, next to a district park. The public will be able to take advantage of the library, cultural center and park. (B.C. Manion)

Williams said he expects Odessa Elementary to be “just slammed full,” for the upcoming school year. “I don’t know (if) we could put any more students there,” he said.

“Fortunately, the relief for Odessa Elementary is the Starkey K-8, which will open, of course, next year. So, Odessa, we’re just working with them to get them through this coming year.

“Oakstead Elementary continues to be a little bit over capacity.

“I don’t know how much opening Starkey K-8, as mostly a magnet, will impact Oakstead (Elementary), but certainly it could have some impact on Oakstead Elementary, as well.

“Connerton (Elementary) continues to be over capacity,” he said.

But, he said, Connerton is experiencing “slow growth,” so the district will monitor the situation.

Wesley Chapel Elementary is expected to be slightly over capacity, but two new charter schools opening this year in Wesley Chapel — Pinecrest and Innovation Preparatory (inPrep) — are expected to have an impact, Williams said.

An additional classroom wing has been added to Bexley Elementary in Land O’ Lakes, to increase its capacity to meet growing enrollment needs. (File)

At the middle school level, the construction of Starkey Ranch K-8 will provide relief to River Ridge and Seven Springs middle schools, and also will likely have some impact on Rushe Middle School, too, Williams said.

A magnet 6-12 school will be opening in 2023, in the upcoming Angeline development in Land O’ Lakes, Williams said. He expects that to have an impact on Pine View and Rushe middle schools, and perhaps on River Ridge Middle, too.

“By then, Ridge Road will be complete,” the planning expert said, creating access to the new 6-12 school from all of those areas.

“Finally, after many years, we finally provide some relief to John Long Middle, with the opening of Cypress Creek Middle,” Williams added.

“Weightman Middle certainly is in a growth area,” he said, but charter schools in the area are expected to have an impact.

Williams added: “Also, we are planning in 2024 to open a magnet school, K-8, over in Wesley Chapel that also will provide relief to some of those schools.”

Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes also has a new classroom wing this year, to accommodate enrollment growth. (File)

At the high school level, Williams said additional capacity was added to Land O’ Lakes High School during its renovation. A new classroom wing added to Sunlake High School will be ready for occupancy this year.

A new wing added to Bexley Elementary also is ready for the 2020-2021 school year.

The future 6-12 school in Angeline also will increase enrollment capacity in the Land O’ Lakes area, Williams said.

The opening of Cypress Creek Middle School this fall, will have a ripple effect on enrollments.

First, it allows Cypress Creek High School to house additional students in grades nine through 12, while Cypress Creek Middle School serves students in grades six through eight.

The additional capacity at the high school allows the school district to relieve crowding at Wiregrass Ranch High. The new middle school allows the district to relieve crowding at John Long Middle.

Wiregrass Ranch won’t feel the full impact for a couple years, Williams said, because the district grandfathered this year’s juniors and seniors at Wiregrass Ranch.

Construction continues on a remodeling project at Zephyrhills High School. (B.C. Manion)

And, of course, the planning director said, the Wiregrass area is still experiencing growth.

He also noted that Pasco High is over capacity. The area, however, isn’t experiencing much growth.

The district is evaluating projects that could add capacity at Pasco High in the future, he said.

Zephyrhills High’s capacity is being increased through a project now in progress at the school, he added.

When The Innovation Academy at Kirkland Ranch opens, expected in 2023, it likely will have a significant impact on enrollments in schools on the district’s east side, he said.

Besides work that has been wrapped up recently, is underway, or on the drawing board — the district also has been securing sites for future schools.

Previously, the district has found itself in the position of being unable to find affordable land for schools, Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd told school board members.

It has resolved that issue, he said.

“As a district, we are in tremendous shape when it comes to land to build schools,” Gadd said.

Published August 05, 2020

Filed Under: Education, Local News Tagged With: Bexley Elementary School, Chris Williams, Connerton Elementary, Cypress Creek High School, Cypress Creek Middle School, Innovation Preparatory, inPrep, iver Ridge Middle School, John Long MIddle School, Land O' Lakes High School, Oakstead Elementary, Odessa Elementary, Pasco High School, Pine View Middle School, Pinecrest, Ray Gadd, Rushe Middle School, Seven Springs Middle School, Starkey Ranch K-8, Sunlake High School, The Innovation Academy at Kirkland Ranch, Weightman Middle School, Wesley Chapel Elementary, Wiregrass Ranch High School

Local golf standout swings into senior year

August 4, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

When Norah Catlin showed up for Wiregrass Ranch High School girls golf tryouts in 2017, it wasn’t long before coach Jeremy Calzone realized a special talent had entered the program.

The longtime Bulls coach originally wasn’t aware of the then-incoming freshman’s background winning countless junior tournaments; being named the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association’s player of the year; qualifying for the Drive, Chip and Putt Championships at the Masters; and first picking up the sport at the age of 4.

Wiregrass Ranch High School rising senior Norah Catlin stands alongside head coach Jeremy Calzone at the 2019 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state championships.
As a junior last year, Catlin finished tied for 17th at the Class 3A championships, firing five-over par (74-75—149) in the two-day tournament.
(Courtesy of Kim Catlin)

Moreover, the timing couldn’t have been better.

The team had just graduated a strong senior class buoyed by Morgan Powers, Alexis Lane and Lexy Frenchko.

With that, Calzone figured the 2017 season would be a retooling year. “We were like, ‘Man, it’s going to be a struggle this year,’” he recalled.

Little did the coach know the most accomplished female golfer in school history had walked in the door, and she’d guide the program to three straight conference championships and district titles.

At tryouts when Calzone asked which of the newcomers had ever golfed before, Catlin meekly raised her hand, speaking softly without much conviction.

Assuming she was mostly a novice with the sport, Calzone unwittingly placed her with a beginner’s group, instead of with some of the team’s more experienced returnees.

He soon discovered a mistake was made.

“It took me two shots to realize, ‘Ok, you need to be in that (top) group with those other girls…,’” Calzone chuckled. “I joke with her all the time, like, ‘You could’ve told me you were like one of the elite players in the area.’ …It was a good surprise to have, obviously.”

The rest is history.

“She’s definitely by far the best (player) we’ve had,” Calzone said of Catlin.

Since entering the Wiregrass Ranch hallways, Catlin has laid claim to the county’s top female

golfer. She is a three-time Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year and three-time state qualifier.

Her freshman year she became the first female golfer in school history to qualify for the state finals, held annually at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, in Howey-in-the-Hills.

As a junior last year, Catlin finished tied for 17th at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 3A state championships, firing five-over par (74-75—149) across the two-day tournament.

It represented the best showing among female golfers from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. The next top score among locals was Steinbrenner High’s Posie Farrelly, who carded nine-over par (79-74 — 153)

Entering her senior campaign, Catlin is looking to build on her past accolades and then some, if and when the already-delayed Florida prep sports season gets underway due to COVID-19.

In addition to trying to secure top county honors and a strong state finish a fourth time, her main goal is to finish undefeated in the dozen or so regular season matches scheduled.

“It’s something that I’ve gotten very close to the last three seasons. I want to be able to do it at least once before my high school career is over,” she said.

Catlin, too, hopes her accomplishments inspire her younger teammates and the next generation of female golfers: “Honestly, I really hope somebody sees what I’ve done and wants to beat it, because that’s how you get better.”

‘A mental game’
On the course, Catlin takes pride in her short game, particularly her chipping ability. It was a skill she began mastering at a young age, using her family’s backyard to practice various angles and distances.

To shore up her accuracy, Catlin’s father would give her $1 every time she hit a tree from a particular position. “We had to stop that very quickly because I’d bankrupt him,” she quipped.

Catlin’s chip shot proficiency, too, has awed Calzone over the years: “It’s crazy, she’ll be five or 10 feet within the pin, ready for birdie almost every time, and if she’s not, it’s almost like you’re shocked, you know.”

The mental side of the game is another of Catlin’s strengths. She makes a point to not let a bad shot or two ruin an entire round — a common theme for some golfers. Instead, she tries to stay level-headed and keep her composure throughout.

Catlin detailed her mindset: “The biggest mistake that some golfers make is when they hit one bad shot, they get very upset, because they think their day is ruined, whereas their attitude towards the situation is what ruins their round. By keeping a level head and telling yourself, ‘Golf is a game, at the end of the day,’ it’s a lot easier to hit the next shot and bounce back.”

Better prepared
Each summer, Catlin travels to St. Petersburg, Russia, to visit family members on her mother’s side.

Catlin doesn’t pick up a golf club during that period, which admittedly leaves her rusty for a couple weeks in advance of the season.

Norah Catlin said one of her main goals as a senior is to be undefeated in all regular season matches. She’d been close to achieving that feat in the past.

The pandemic, however, cancelled the teen’s annual Russia trip.

From a golfing standpoint, it could prove a blessing in disguise.

That’s because she has used the extra downtime in town to hit the links with more fervor — and should yield a more polished version of herself  by the start of the season, whenever that is.

“I think all this extra practice that I’ve been able to do is really going to help me,” Catlin said, adding she’s fortunate golf courses have stayed open during the pandemic, as the sport’s been deemed an essential recreational activity by state and local governments. “It’s been nice to still have my sport running, and it gives me something to do every day.”

More prepared than usual for the start of a season, Calzone acknowledged Catlin could put forth her best showing of her prep career.

“If she’s been playing all summer, look out,” the coach said. “She’s never disappointed me, so my expectations are always pretty high for her, because I know what she’s going to do.”

Promising future awaits
Catlin has multiple offers to golf collegiately, but she hasn’t yet decided if that’s a path she’ll take.

One of the top students in her senior class with a 4.5 GPA who takes a heavy dose of Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment classes, Catlin aspires to study political science in college and attend law school. She also is passionate about environmental issues, recently completing an online environmental justice fellowship amid the pandemic. Studying abroad in Russia and becoming fluent in the language are some other lofty objectives.

When it comes to higher education, Catlin said, “I just want to focus more time on my school and focusing on my GPA.”

In either case, golf will still be a lifelong hobby for her, whether she’s playing competitively or not.

“It’s definitely going to be in my life, probably for the rest of my life,” Catlin said. “I genuinely like it because it gives me time alone, time to think, and it’s as much of a mental game as it is a physical game. …Also, it’s just a nice way to get fresh air.”

Whatever Catlin winds up doing, Catlin’s high school coach is sure she’ll find success.

“She’s just an unbelievable person,” Calzone said. “She’s just a great, all-around person. Her grades, she’s very polite, she’s well-liked by all the teachers, the kids at school. Just a great, unbelievable person. I mean, she’s unbelievable at golf, but I think she’s just an unbelievable, all-around student-athlete.”

Published August 05, 2020

Filed Under: Local Sports, People Profiles, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa Sports Tagged With: Alexis Lane, COVID-19, Florida High School Athletic Association, Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association, Howey-in-the-Hills, Jeremy Calzone, Lexy Frenchko, Mission Inn Resort & Club, Morgan Powers, Norah Catlin, Posie Farrelly, Steinbrenner High School, Sunshine Athletic Conference, Wiregrass Ranch High School

Check out these locals during 2020 MLB season

July 28, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

The 2020 MLB (Major League Baseball) season will be unlike any other it has experienced,  thanks to COVID-19.

The condensed 60-game schedule is believed to be the league’s shortest season since 1878. Fans will have to watch the games on TV, online, or listen to the radio — as stadiums will be off-limits to them, at least initially.

There also will be myriad other social distancing and health and safety protocols, and some new rules — such as the universal DH (designated hitter) and extra innings beginning with a runner on second base.

The season kicked off on July 23, four months later than expected, after MLB elected to postpone play in early March because of the pandemic.

Though later than anticipated, and with far fewer games than expected, baseball fans will get a chance to watch their favorite teams and players battle for a postseason spot and World Series crown.

Meanwhile, a handful of players (and a manager) with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area look to take on prominent, even starring, roles with their respective MLB franchise this season.

Here’s a closer look at some of the locals to watch.

Austin Adams, Seattle Mariners, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School
Fully recovered from offseason knee surgery, the 29-year-old right-hander is expected to make a sizable impact for the Mariners bullpen, sliding into the team’s late-inning pitching or even as a closer.

Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher Austin Adams, a Zephyrhills High School product (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Since being traded to Seattle from the Washington Nationals last May, Adams registered a 3.77 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 51 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched across 29 games. The breakout 2019 campaign was cut short after a stomach-churning moment where he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus. It happened while trying to avoid a near-collision fielding a play at first base in a late September game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school success led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that had its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.

Adams signed with the Los Angeles Angels later that year after being selected in the eighth round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

His road to the big leagues was a lengthy one, having thrown more than 250 innings across five minor league seasons before making his MLB debut in 2017 with the Nationals (from where he was traded to by Los Angeles in late 2016).

Also, Adams joins a respective list of former MLB players from the Zephyrhills area, joining Dave Eiland (1988-2000) and Domonic Brown (2010-2015).

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Entering his fifth big-league season, the 28-year-old right-handed pitcher is projected to slot in as the Cardinals’ setup man or late-inning option, after a strong 2019 campaign where he won 11 games and posted a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Gant is known for having one of the most unique windups in baseball, whereby he takes a couple left-footed toe taps, then pauses before firing off a pitch. He’s also regarded for sporting a five-pitch repertoire, including a changeup nicknamed “The Vulcan” — gripping the ball between the middle and ring fingers, garnering its name from the Vulcan salute used by Spock in the Star Trek series.

Gant moved to Wesley Chapel when he was 11, from Savannah, Georgia. He wound up starring on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and suffering just three losses in four years.

Gant wasn’t only involved with baseball, though.

He was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams, and also served as scorekeeper for the girls basketball program, which was coached by his father, John Sr., then a science teacher at the school.

Gant signed with the New York Mets out of high school after being selected in the 21st round of the 2011 MLB Draft. After four years in their minor league system, Gant was traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he made his MLB debut in 2016. He was traded offseason to the Cardinals, where he has been since.

Gant has customarily spent parts of his baseball offseason training in and around Wesley Chapel.

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School
The 25-year-old Mercado is penciled in as the Indians starting centerfielder. That follows a showy 2019 rookie season where he batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado graduated from Gaither High School in 2013. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

A native of Columbia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old.

He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns.

As a Cowboy, Mercado was something of a prep prodigy. He was named ESPN’s No. 1 middle infielder in the nation and dotted multiple high school All-American lists — Under Armour All-American, MaxPreps Underclass All-American and Perfect Game All-American Classic and Underclass All-American.

In addition to his skills on the diamond, Mercado had a 5.0 weighted GPA at Gaither and originally planned to attend Florida State University on a baseball scholarship. That all changed when he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 2013 MLB, electing to sign with the club for a $1.5 million signing bonus.

Mercado spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018. He made his MLB debut on May 14, 2019, against the Chicago White Sox.

Also noteworthy, Mercado became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Widely considered one of the game’s top prospects, the 6-foot-6 flame-throwing righty is expected to make his MLB sooner rather than later this season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson, an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School alum. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Reports out of Summer Camp indicate the 23-year-old Pearson is indeed ready for The Show, having refined breaking pitches to complement a fastball that regularly touches triple digits.

Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.

Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami’s Florida International University, then transferred to the College of Central Florida in Ocala. There, he was named the Rawlings/Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year, and subsequently selected by the Blue Jays in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, signing with the team for a $2.45 million bonus.

Pearson has proceeded to shine at each level of the minors, boasting a combined 2.19 ERA,

0.87 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 123.1 innings from rookie ball through Triple-A.

The budding major leaguer spent a portion of the leaguewide shutdown in Tampa, training with other professional athletes at Yo Murphy Performance.

Matt Joyce, a New Tampa resident (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)

Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, outfielder
Local tie: New Tampa resident/business owner
Through born and raised in Brandon, the 12-year MLB veteran has since made New Tampa home, living in the Hunter’s Green area and recently opening an F45 Training fitness center chain at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve neighborhood shopping center.

The left-handed hitting corner outfielder is the quintessential journeyman, having played for seven different MLB franchises, his longest tenure coming with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2009-2014.

He’s mainly played a platoon role throughout his career, almost exclusively getting action against right-handed pitchers. In recent years, he’s taken on a lesser role, as a spot starter and pinch-hitter.

The 35-year-old Joyce begins the 2020 season on the 10-day injured list, due to an undisclosed condition and having not participated in the team’s July Summer Camp activities. In more than 1,300 MLB games played, Joyce has accumulated 145 career home runs and 482 RBIs, along with a .243/.343/.432 slash line.

 

 

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Gaither High School
Before enjoying eight years as an MLB catcher and now manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, the 42-year-old Cash fine-tuned his baseball skills and acumen in Lutz, playing at Northside Little League and Gaither High School.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash grew up in Lutz, playing at Northside Little League and Gaither High School. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays communications department)

He spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park.

Cash first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.

Cash would go on to later play college baseball at Florida State University and earn spots with six different MLB franchises from 2002-2010 — including earning two World Series rings with the 2007 Red Sox and 2009 Yankees, respectively.

Once his playing career concluded, Cash ventured into coaching and has been the Rays manager since 2015. He’s widely regarded as one of the game’s best for leading a Rays rebuilding effort that embraces outside-the-box strategies, such as platoons, shifts, and openers, combined with strong leadership skills in dealing with players.

Baseball is undoubtedly in his blood, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.

Published July 29, 2020

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Cleveland Indians, COVID-19, Gaither High School, John Gant, Kevin Cash, Major League Baseball, Matt Joyce, Miami Marlins, MLB, Nate Pearson, Oscar Mercado, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School

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Live Oak Theatre is now selling tickets for its Acorn Theatre production of “Aladdin jr.” Performances will be March 18 through March 28, at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. Seats are $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 13 and younger, when accompanied by an adult. For show times and tickets, visit LiveOakTheatre.square.site, email , or call 352-593-0027. … [Read More...] about ‘Aladdin jr.’

03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

03/06/2021 – Bridal Trunk Show

The Gulfside Hospice New Port Richey Thrift Shoppe, 6117 State Road 54, will host a Bridal Trunk Show on March 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be more than 250 dresses to choose from, starting at $29.99 and many brand new. Admission is free, but limited spots are available to allow for social distancing. Brides must register online in advance, by March 3, at bit.ly/NPR-Bridal-Trunk-Show. All proceeds from the shop go to help hospice patients in Pasco County. For questions, contact Jeremi Sliger at , or call 727-842-7262. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Bridal Trunk Show

03/11/2021 – Economic security

The Pasco Unit of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County will sponsor a panel discussion on “Economic Security in Pasco County During the COVID Outbreak” on March 11 at 7 p.m. Panelists will include Brian Hoben, community services director, Pasco County Public Services; Marcy Esbjerg, director of community development, Pasco County Public Services; Don Anderson, CEO, Pasco Homeless Coalition; and, Mike Bishop, director, Stakeholder Engagement, Pasco Economic Development Council. For information on how to register, email . … [Read More...] about 03/11/2021 – Economic security

03/13/2021 – ‘Grease’ event

T-Mobile will sponsor “Grease is the Word” on March 13 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. There will be a sing-along contest pitting Pasco County Fire Rescue against the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, a free movie “under the stars,” and a classic car show with prizes. There also will be food trucks and games. Admission is free. … [Read More...] about 03/13/2021 – ‘Grease’ event

03/13/2021 – Exhibitors needed

Demene Benjamin and UrEsteem will host “UrSelf: A Dabble in Self-Care” on March 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Exhibitors can be anyone who has a product or service to promote physical, mental and social health, including physical and massage therapists; counselors; churches; nail techs/hairstylists; yoga/pilates/exercise; or natural products. For information, call 813-334-6006, or email . … [Read More...] about 03/13/2021 – Exhibitors needed

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