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Sunlake boys finish third at state cross-country championships

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The Sunlake High School varsity boys cross-country team continued to show itself as among the state’s elite distance running programs and tops in Pasco County, and in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Seahawks finished in third place out of 32 schools in Class 3A at the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.

The Sunlake High School varsity boys cross-country team finished third in the Class 3A state championship meet, representing the best finish among all local schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. From left: Nathan Lee, Cason Meyer, Cade Culpepper, Alex Pena, Colby Robbins, Maximillian Goserud and Cody Smith. (Courtesy of Randal Reeves)

The 3A team crown went to Miami’s Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, which tallied 42 points after its top five runners went second, ninth, 10th, 14th and 17th place, respectively. It represents that private school’s fifth-consecutive state title and 13th all-time.

Second place went to Fort Myers High School, who tallied 132 points after its top-five finished seventh, 22nd, 37th, 44th and 50th.

Sunlake wasn’t far behind.

They tallied 151 points, as its fleet went third, 16th, 23rd, 58th, and 76th in the 3.1-mile course on Nov. 12.

Rounding out the top five team finishers were Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas High School (201 points) and Naples High School (235 points), respectively.

Junior Alex Pena — who paced Sunlake with a third-place individual finish — broke the 16-minute mark by clocking a 15:46.8, a 5:04 per mile pace.

The lone runners in the 3A meet who finished ahead of Pena were Leon High School sophomore Patrick Koon (first place, 15:23.8) and Belen Jesuit sophomore Joshua Ruiz (second, 15:37.4).

Following Pena for Sunlake were seniors Colby Robbins (16:21.3) and Cason Meyer (16:21.3); freshman Cade Culpepper (17:03.1); and, senior Maximillian Goserud (17:16.9).

The Seahawks sixth and seventh varsity runners — whose scores aren’t tallied in the results — were junior Nathan Lee (17:47.7) and senior Cody Smith (18:16.7).
The timed average for the Sunlake boys was 16:36, equating to an average pace of 5:21 per mile. There was just a 1:31 gap between its No. 1 through No. 5 runners.

The Seahawks, coached by Randal Reeves, racked up a number of other accolades during the season — altogether sweeping conference, district and regional team titles.

Robbins took individual crowns at each of those three meets. This included recording the fastest time in county history (and setting a new Sunlake record) with a 15:14 mark on the school’s 5K home course at the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) meet on Oct. 20.

The 2021 (FHSAA) Florida High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships was held Nov. 12 at Apalachee Regional Park, in Tallahassee.
(Courtesy of Florida High School Athletic Association)

Other individuals from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area also fared well in the 3A boys meet.

Cypress Creek High School junior Zack Poekert finished sixth overall, timing 16:05.

Zephyrhills High School sophomore William Poe took 26th, clocking 16:35.

The meet featured 234 runners.

Several local teams and individuals exhibited solid showings at the state finals across other classifications, too.

The Wharton High School varsity girls yielded the next best local team showing — finishing 10th in the Class 4A meet.

The Wildcats were paced by senior Brooke Reif — a University of Richmond signee — who finished fourth among all individual 4A girls, after running an 18:49.2, an average pace of 6:03 per mile.

The Sunlake girls went 14th in the 3A meet, while the Land O’ Lakes High School girls collected a 26th place finish.
The Steinbrenner High School boys program went 24th in the 4A contest.F
Land O’ Lakes native Elli Black — a home-schooled seventh-grader who runs for Tampa Cambridge Christian School — finished state third overall in the 1A girls meet, posting 18:26.4. The other state qualifying girls individual was Wiregrass Ranch freshman Ava Schmitt (48th, 20:27.3, 4A girls).

Roundup of local teams and individuals at the 2021 FHSAA Cross Country State Championships:

Boys

4A
Steinbrenner (24th)

Ronald Aeschleman, senior (57th, 16:52)

Sawyer Raveling, senior (111th, 17:37.1)

Jaden Simpson, senior (124th, 17:46.0)

Jacob Smith, junior (169th, 18:25.4)

Joaquin Abanses, freshman (170th, 18:26.3)

Brady Peifer, freshman (172nd, 18:28.3)

Eion McDarby, senior (212th, 19:49.7)

3A
Sunlake (third)
Alex Pena, junior (third, 15:46.8)

Colby Robbins, senior (16th, 16:21.3)

Cason Meyer, senior (23rd, 16:31.8)

Cade Culpepper, freshman (58th, 17:03.1)

Maximillian Goserud, senior (76th, 17:16.9)

Nathan Lee, junior (110th, 17:47.7)

Cody Smith, senior (148th, 18:16.7)

Indvidual(s)

Cypress Creek: Zack Poekert, junior (sixth, 16:05)

Zephyrhills: William Poe, sophomore (26th, 16:35.5)

 2A

No local teams or individual runners

 1A
No local teams or individual runners

 Girls

Class 4A
Wharton (10th)

Brooke Reif, senior (fourth, 18:49.2)

Alexi Amer, senior (51st, 20:30.8)

Alexandria Frye, senior (81st, 20:56.5)

Olivia Hammill, junior (109th, 21:18.3)

Aubrey Raile, junior (127th, 21:46.6)

Keira Moody, freshman (191st, 23:27.7)

Dana Robinson, senior (209th, 24:22.9)

 Individual(s)

Wiregrass Ranch: Ava Schmitt, freshman (48th, 20:27.3)

3A
Sunlake (14th)

Sara Ellingson, senior (54th, 20:15.7)

Shelby Viseur, senior (77th, 20:39.9)

Avery Pham, sophomore (78th, 20:41.1)

Abigail Williams, sophomore (89th, 20:49.8)

Jaiden Wickert, junior (128th, 21:35.8)

Emma Burleson, senior (145th, 21:57.8)

Ally Moyer, sophomore (165th, 22:22.6)

Land O’ Lakes (26th)

Maranda Hildebrand, senior (88th, 20:48.9)

Sara Ashley, senior (133th, 21:39.2)

Aileen Castillo, sophomore (152nd, 22:04.0)

Dixie Blessing, freshman (169th, 22:43.5)

Ava Adriana, sophomore (171st, 22:47.0)

Grace Connoy, sophomore (200th, 23:38.6)

Alli Laffler, freshman (202nd, 23:40.9)

 1A
Individual (s)

Elli Black, Cambridge Christian (Land O’ Lakes resident), eighth grade (third, 18:26.4)

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Sports agency in Lutz building reputation, clientele

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When conjuring up an image of a sports talent agent, the mind might wander to a sharp-tongued individual donning an expensive suit, wheeling deals and barking orders from an expensive downtown high-rise in Los Angeles, Miami or New York.

Think movies and television shows like “Jerry McGuire,” “Ballers,” and “Arliss.”

DNA Sports Management is a boutique sports agency firm situated off of State Road 54 in Lutz. The firm primarily represents professional football and hockey players. (Courtesy of DNA Sports Management)

But, David Walkowiak and Andre Kirwan aim to defy that stereotype. They operate a boutique sports agency firm out of Walkowiak’s law office, off State Road 54 in Lutz.

Walkowiak and Kirwan partnered around 2014 to form DNA Sports Management, a full-service sports agency that primarily works with professional football and hockey players.

Kirwan jokes the firm’s name sometimes gives the impression the duo is in an entirely different line of work — with people frequently asking if it’s a medical tech company.

The DNA moniker takes on multiple meanings.

For one, it ties in the first initial of Dave and Andre.

And, like the biological DNA, the firm asserts the tagline: “With You for Life.”

It also signals the team is available to help their clients even after their athletic career — providing guidance into the public and private sectors.

They’ve helped clients break into coaching and scouting, have written law school recommendations, and have helped another launch a rap career and establish contacts in the music and entertainment industry.

They regularly assist with housing issues, financial literacy, athletic training programs and are just there, sometimes, to lend an ear.

“We stay with these guys, whether they’re making millions of dollars or nothing, because we take this seriously,” Walkowiak says.

Kirwan asserts the firm’s priority is “do the right thing by players and not compromise integrity.”

In essence, Kirwan and Walkowiak are on call  24/7, Kirwan says.

“It’s just a matter of when life happens, so when they need us, they need us,” he says of DNA’s athletic clientele. “We’re taking calls on weekends, on evenings. If they had a bad practice, they’ll call us for a pep talk, so really, we’re family. We tell the parents, ‘We’re an extension of you…’”

David Walkowiak

Modest beginnings
DNA Sports started from humble beginnings.

The very first negotiated deal was on behalf of a player for the Triangle Torches, a little-known and now defunct professional indoor football team based out of Raleigh, North Carolina.

It was far from a headline-grabbing, multimillion dollar deal.

League players made around $150 per week and were given a couple food vouchers.

Now, the pair is working with several athletes who’ve gone on to have stints or extended action in both the NFL and CFL.

A new addition to the DNA roster is former USF record-breaking quarterback Quinton Flowers, who plays in the Fan Controlled Football league. Flowers also enjoyed stints with the Cincinnati Bengals (2018), Indianapolis Colts (2019) and XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers (2020).

Another familiar face is former USF outside linebacker Nigel Harris. The former Hillsborough High standout is now on the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders negotiation list and has previous experience with the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans.

Walkowiak estimates DNA Sports has represented “close to 100 players” since its inception. He  acknowledges many initial signings were reaches to have a legitimate shot in the pro football ranks, coming from the Division II and NAIA collegiate football ranks.

With time and experience, the firm now can be more selective with its client list.

“I think we learned a lot in the early years,” Walkowiak says. “We realized it’s not quantity. It’s not that you just sign everybody and hope one sticks, you know, it’s that we want to be a boutique agency, and one that really caters to all the needs.”

The firm has gone global to procure talent, too.

DNA Sports in November tabbed three Russian hockey player prospects to contracts — defenseman Artur Karmashkov, goaltender Ivan Veremchuk, and center Yuri Zholobov, respectively.

Karmashkov and Veremchuk have played in the KHL, the Soviet Union’s equivalent of the NHL, while Zholobov has had action in the Czech Republic’s premier professional leagues.

The signings were made possible with the help of former Tampa Bay Lightning winger Alexander Selivanov, the agency’s Director of European Scouting/European Agent.

Andre Kirwan

Further beefing up its ice hockey portfolio, DNA Sports recently hired Adam Bennett,  the No. 6 overall pick in the 1989 NHL Draft, to an advisory role.

Bennett, who bounced around professional leagues for six years, including playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers, will be consulting primarily Florida-based hockey talent, helping them latch on with junior teams, colleges and so on.

The numbers guy
Walkowiak and Kirwan each bring their own set of unique backgrounds and experiences to the sports management firm.

Walkowiak is a self-professed “geek that loves numbers,” and describes himself as “the guy behind the scenes.” He previously worked closely with the Lightning’s former ownership group led by Henry Paul and Phil Esposito, assisting on tasks like arbitration, trades and player contract evaluations.

His career feats include facilitating the trade of then forward Jason Bonsignore and handling the arbitration case of then goaltender Daren Puppa.

On negotiating player contracts, Walkowiak calls the process “very similar to doing a comparative market analysis in real estate.”

With a passion for sports growing up and hockey in particular, Walkowiak “always wanted to be an agent.”

A practicing attorney since 1997 who specializes in real estate law, circuit civil and family law, Walkowiak figured he’d revisit this dream knowing pro athletes have landed larger and larger deals in recent years.

The tipping point came when Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog in 2013 signed a seven-year contract extension worth $39 million.

The report piqued Walkowiak’s interest.

Someone he never heard of was now “making Wayne Gretzky money,” he said, referring to arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, who retired in 1999.

Former USF record-breaking quarterback Quinton Flowers is one of the Lutz-based sports agency’s more prominent clients. (Courtesy of University of South Florida Athletics Department)

“For a period of about 15 years, to go from the greatest player that ever played the game, to almost the same amount of money for a guy that I had never heard of,” Walkowiak says. “I wanted to revisit that.”

The mentor
Kirwan, meanwhile, takes on more of the role of relationship-builder and athlete mentor. He often reminds clients and others to “stay humble, stay hungry and prayed up.”

Kirwan was a decorated athlete in his own right. He played nearly nine seasons with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, where he won a Grey Cup Championship as a starting wide receiver in 1997. He even had an NFL training camp stint with the San Francisco 49ers after graduating from Stanford University.

Kirwan understands the importance of an agent being forthcoming, and transparent, with athletes.

He once had to fire an agent from a high-profile firm for lying to him about sending his highlight film to NFL teams who’d expressed interest at the height of his CFL career. It could’ve been what Kirwan needed to break into the NFL at the time.

Kirwan often ponders if he would have been better served by a smaller, more personable firm like DNA Sports.

“I’ve sat on both sides of the table now.

“The No. 1 question I’d always ask an agent when I was interviewing them was, ‘Who else do you represent?’ and a lot of times you go for the shiniest objects, the biggest names and that’s what I ended up doing,” Kirwan explains.
“In essence, I should’ve gone to a boutique firm like us that really fought for my cause. Having had to fire an agent for lying to me, it’s even that more personal to me to do what we say we’re going to do,” he said, noting athletes are placing their futures in the firm’s hands.

Keeping momentum
So, what does the future holds for DNA Sports?

Perhaps the firm will venture into additional professional sports, such as basketball, soccer or track and field.

“We’re not opposed to branching out,” Kirwan says, but, “we don’t want to be a jack-of-all trades and a master of none.”

Whatever path they take, Kirwan and Walkowiak are bullish on the agency’s future prospects.

“It’s just a matter of time before we start having those first-rounders, those second-rounders,” Kirwan says, referring to top-flight NFL Draft prospects.

Says Walkowiak: “We’re excited. We have a lot going on. We’ve picked up quite a bit of traction lately.”

For information on DNA Sports Management, visit DNASportsManagement.com, email , or call 813-962-3176.

Published February 24, 2021

Steinbrenner boys cross-country wins first state title

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After finishing runner-up at the past two 4A state championships, Steinbrenner High’s varsity cross-country team won it all this year — defeating 31 other teams.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) 4A state championships were held on Nov. 9 at Tallahassee’s Apalachee Regional Park.

The Steinbrenner Warriors were paced by senior Josh King, who finished in sixth place overall, crossing the finish line in 15:52.32 The rest of the team’s top five runners were senior Blake Walker (19th,16:05.88), senior Gabriel Lara (32nd, 16:19.79), junior Zachary Harrigan (45th, 16:26.18) and senior Rama Jonnalgadda (56th, 16:30.95).

The Steinbrenner High varsity boys cross-country team won its first state championship earlier this month. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High Athletics)

Steinbrenner’s 129 points were enough to edge out second-place team finisher Nease High (140), despite the latter having three of the race’s top five finishers.

Steinbrenner’s showing marked the program’s first-ever state title.

After falling just short of that elusive crown in 2017 and 2018, winning it all meant that much more.

“You see how hard these guys work, and for them to have that moment, it’s unreal, you can’t really describe it,” Warriors head coach Allison Szponar said. “It was kind of surreal to be a coach…and you really appreciate all that goes into it and how hard that these guys have worked day in and day out in their absolute, unyielding commitment to the team and our mission.”

That was especially the case for King, who battled injuries each of the last two years. He missed all his sophomore year with a stress fracture, and only ran a few races as a junior before he was sidelined again.

Said King, “I kind of wanted to show who I am and prove my potential, and try to really lead the team because we’ve been runners-up for two years in a row, and we were really hungry for it and I wanted to contribute to it.

“I think ending on a high note is really great for me because this is really like all I wanted and this is what I worked for, for so many years.”

King worked to become the team’s No. 1 runner this season. His personal record of 15:50, in September at the Don Bishop Invitational, broke the school’s 5K record of 15:56 set in 2012 by Matt Magee, who went on to run cross-country and track at Florida State University.

Having his name attached to a state title and a school record humbles King: “I mean, that’s kind of crazy to me, because I thought we’d never be able to reach that record that’s been held for a long time now. Our school’s relatively young, but the guy who formerly had it was like a stud, so we all like thought it wasn’t reachable.”

Besides King’s running prowess this season, Szponar said the senior leader served as the team’s quasi-athletic trainer, offering recovery advice and encouragement to fellow runners who went through various aches and pains.

King’s own personal recovery also was a team motivator, the coach said.

“He leads by example, which is the most important part,” Szponar said, also noting King has a 5.7 weighted GPA. “He worked back from (injuries) to become an even stronger and better runner by finding what worked with him, and the younger guys will see that, so when they’re complaining of the shin splints or they tweak an ankle or something like that they know that, ‘Hey, all is not lost.’”

The team’s motto this season was “DNA: Doubt Not Allowed.”

Since the start of summer workouts, the team’s mindset for each practice and race was to push hard and not make excuses, Szponar said.

“We never give up and we don’t doubt what we’re doing,” the coach said. “If we gave up, we definitely would not have been state champions this year after coming off two straight years of being runners-up. A lot of guys would lose their focus and their drive, but our guys, it spurred them to work even harder and motivated them to achieve what they achieved this year.”

King echoed those sentiments, noting the program’s success comes from “a winning culture.”

King explained: “We have a team mentality here at Steinbrenner, and we have younger guys that look up to the seniors and kind of try to replicate what they do, and we have an incredible coaching staff.”

He added: “Cross-country is such a unique sport in that what you put into it is what you get out of. Like, you don’t line up to the line and (are) naturally 2 minutes faster. It’s literally the hard work that we put into it, and our team worked really hard this year to achieve our goals.

“We had a lot of talent and we worked really hard, so I think the outcome that we got was definitely something that we were looking for, and it was really great.”

Leading into the state meet, Szponar said the team was confident they could win the whole thing. After all, the Warriors swept its district and regional meets, and had the needed depth across its varsity squad.

“The message was, ‘This is y’all’s to lose, and the only team that can beat you are yourselves…so all you have to do is do what you’re supposed to do and you get to hoist that trophy at the end of this meet.’”

That, they did.

Here’s a roundup of all local teams and individuals at the 2019 FHSAA cross-country state championships:

Boys
4A
Steinbrenner (First place)
Josh King, senior (Sixth place— 15:52.32)

Blake Walker, senior (19th — 16:05.88)

Gabriel Lara, senior (32nd — 16:19.79)

Zachary Harrigan, junior (45th — 16:26.18)

Rama Jonnalgadda, senior (56th — 16:30.95)

Paul Foreman, senior (125th — 17:11.57)

Ethan Bhatt, junior (172nd — 17:37.16)

Wharton (26th place)
Jared Hamill, junior (10th — 15:55.30)

Jackson Blanchard, senior (111th — 17:05.96)

Thomas Walter, junior (159th — 17:27.20)

Alexander Olson, senior (208th — 18:16.55)

Amir Aboroomi, sophomore (232nd — 19:41.54)

Emanuel Camacho, sophomore (236th — 20:50.51)

Kevin Tran, junior (237th — 21.02.16)

Individual(s)
Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior (49th — 16:28.06)

3A
Sunlake (Fifth place)
Colby Robbins, sophomore (19th — 16:29.59)

Gavin Kennedy, senior (44th — 16:51.30)

Drew Knobl, senior (49th — 16:55.06)

Alejandro Pena, freshman (60th — 17:06.29)

Kaden Knopp, senior (70th — 17:11.51)

Albert Lared, senior (82nd — 17:16.58)

Edward Scheid, senior (99th — 17:26.42)

2A
Cypress Creek (20th place)
Justin Ludwig, sophomore (59th — 17:15.49)

John Roswell, junior (102nd — 17:58.38)

Devin Payne, sophomore (106th — 18:00.27)

Lathen Falk, sophomore (18:35.88)

Sebastian Lebron, junior (18:41.55)

Zachery Poekert, freshman (18:52.56)

Dominic Fonseca, junior (19:45.29)

Individual(s)
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, senior (33rd — 16:54.85)

No local teams or individuals in 1A

Girls
4A
Wharton (26th place)
Brooke Reif, sophomore (91st — 20:15. 10)

Nia Rivers, senior (128th — 20:46.80)

Alexandria Frye, sophomore (136th — 20:54.30)

Callie Zack, junior (152nd — 21:14.20)

Jinia Johnson, senior (173rd — 21:42.70)

Jessica Perez, senior (199th — 22:29.10)

Michelle Sullivan, senior (203rd — 22:34.40)

Steinbrenner (28th place)
Reyna Simpson, freshman (105th — 20:27.60)

Anna Breede, sophomore (139th — 20:56.60)

Anne Sullivan, senior (150th — 21:11.20)

Ayden Krueger, senior (151st — 21:11.20)

Kaitlyn Arko, senior (183rd — 21:56.60)

Nina Pardo, freshman (191st — 22:10.20)

Rebekah Hurwitz, senior (212th — 23:17.40)

3A
Sunlake (Sixth place)
Liina Winborn, senior (Fourth place — 18:11.16)

Shannon Gordy, junior (25th— 19:39.29)

Ashley Spires, junior (56th — 20:16.99)

Emily Jenkins, senior (92nd — 20:49.42)

Emma Burleson, sophomore (113th — 21:22.12)

Annie Winborn, freshman (117th — 21:27.73)

Destiny Saltzman, senior (184th — 23:04.31)

No local teams or individuals in classes 1A and 2A

Published November 20, 2019

Youth league blends football, life lessons

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In this youth football program, life lessons are just as important as fundamentals of tackling, blocking or catching.

Winning is nice and all, but the Keystone Bills youth football and cheerleading organization is more about developing tomorrow’s leaders, officials say.

Coach Jermaine Clemons shares pointers on blocking techniques with several of his offensive players during a recent practice at Keystone Park in Odessa. In addition to coaching, Clemons also serves as the current athletic director for the Keystone Bills Youth Organization. (Christine Holtzman)

“We’re really trying to build young men and young women,” said Bills president/athletic director Jermaine Clemons, who’s in his fourth year with the group.

“It’s bigger than just football,” said Bills U14 varsity coach Juan Long, who’s been with the organization for 13 years.

That theme is emphasized in the organization’s three pillars — respect, community development and education.

The Bills offer flag football, tackle football, and cheerleading for ages 5 through 14. The organization was established in 1976, serving northwest Hillsborough County and Odessa.

It currently has about 160 players across five youth divisions, plus dozens of cheerleaders.

The organization has enjoyed its share of success in recent years, especially at the higher levels.

Under Long’s watch, the Bills won Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL) varsity titles in 2013 and 2017.

The team of 13- and 14-year-olds is enjoying another solid season, with a 6-2 mark.

While holding onto a roster, Coach Dave Saunders observes his offense players run individual drills, as they perfect their deep routes. Saunders was an all-conference receiver at West Virginia University in the late 1990s who went on to play nine years of arena ball. He is currently the varsity wider receiver coach for Gaither High School in Tampa.

“Juan really coaches it,” Clemons said. “He coaches his players up, and he’s very detail-oriented. He runs a defense almost like a college team. They run an offense almost like a college team. It’s not, ‘Line up and run right, run left.’ There are small details.”

But Long, also an assistant at Steinbrenner High, isn’t out there simply to win ballgames.

“I really don’t care about a trophy,” he said. “I care about if (kids) want to come back because they had a great experience, a great time with us.

“Every year I tell the parents, ‘My job is to make them better brothers, better sons, better husbands for the future.’ That’s the main goal, to establish more of the characteristics of these kids, as opposed to just being a football player. I know if we’ve done the other things correctly, we’ve done our job.”

Parent volunteer Jennifer Green witnesses it first-hand with her three sons, who each play for the Bills.

Green explained Bills coaches stay on players about their schoolwork and even offer tutoring sessions before regular Tuesday and Thursday night practices at Keystone Park in Odessa. Coaches also require players to face their teammates if they miss a practice or game due to a behavior or off-the-field issue.

“They’re 100% not just here to make your child a better football player,” she said, “They’re here to build men.”

It’s something 14-year-old Tre Wilson has grown to appreciate.

On the field, Wilson about has it covered, as a versatile athlete who can play running back, receiver, quarterback and returner. The Gaither High freshman also has the bloodlines, as father Eugene Wilson II is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots who also played for the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an eight-year NFL career between 2003-2010.

But, it’s the mentorship from coaches that sticks out most to the younger Wilson.

Cheerleaders with the Midget Cheer Squad practice an extension pyramid, under the direction of Midget Head Coach Melissa Lindstrom. The squad is made up of girls, ages 11 and 12.

“They’ve shown me experiences about life, as I’m growing up,” he said. “Over the years, they’ve taught me not only about football, but being the best on and off (the field).”

Aside from life lessons of course, Bills coaches impart their fair share of football advice.

They’ve got the pedigree to do so.

Clemons was a running back at the University of South Florida in the late 1990s under head coach Jim Leavitt.

Long was a linebacker at Mississippi State University in the early 1990s, and had a brief stint in the NFL and played several years in the Arena Football League.

Another coach, Dave Saunders, was an all-conference receiver at West Virginia University in the late 1990s who has the third-most receiving yards in school history. He went on to play nine years of arena ball, including four season with the Tampa Bay Storm (2002-2005).

The experience resonates with players and parents alike, said Green, whose boys spent time in other youth football leagues in the Tampa Bay area.

“We’ve been drawn here by the level of coaching that is available,” she said. “The level of coaching here is a lot more intense. To have that level of experience out there, not every person can bring that out.”

The diverse and decorated football backgrounds help get kids to heed coaches’ principles, Long explained.

“You don’t need to be a former player in order to get credibility,” Long said, “but, at the same point in time, especially with today’s generation, you do at least get their attention.”

“We have that experience, so we can relate to the kids from that standpoint. They know, ‘Hey, these guys have been there and done it, they’ve seen things at the highest level, then maybe we should listen to them, because they’re trying to steer us in the right direction.’”

Published October 23, 2019

Prep football midseason review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New coaches finding their way

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

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

Hillsborough County

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

Pasco County

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

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

Hillsborough County:

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

Pasco County:

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

Published October 2, 2019

Lutz softball continues to fine-tune its offerings

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Following a successful spring campaign, Lutz Softball is gearing up for another season of fastpitch softball next month — with a number of recent additions and upgrades.

Formerly known as the Lutz Leaguerettes, the ages 4 to 18 recreational girls softball organization has expanded its fastpitch offerings since scrapping slowpitch play altogether a few years ago.

The league has introduced a five-on-five, infield-only 6U division to guide younger players through basic fundamentals, including the shift from T-ball to coaches’ fastpitch.

The Lutz Softball recreational fastpitch girls softball league featured about 200 players across 17 teams last spring. Those numbers are expected to remain steady in the fall season. (Courtesy of Jennifer Parry)

The new division had a test run last year for the first time — to beneficial results, said Jennifer Parry,  league president.

“It’s been pretty successful, so we’re going to do it again this season,” she said. “The girls that maybe have a shorter attention span, they stay more involved, they learn the basics of the game and hitting.”

The league also is finding ways to cater to more experienced players.

Lutz Softball implemented Xtreme Fastpitch divisions in conjunction with its parent program, Babe Ruth League, which is designed for higher-level players to have more organized competitive play against other Babe Ruth teams throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Parry said the Xtreme league “is for the girls that are either trying to get a little better for high school or that just are a little better than most, they can play there and kind of fine-tune some of those skills that they may not get to practice on a regular rec league.”

Introduced last year, Xtreme Fastpitch has helped “bridge the gap” between recreational and travel ball play as a more affordable option for families, the league president said.

She noted some former Lutz Softball players who previously left for travel leagues have since returned to participate in the league’s Xtreme divisions.

“It’s been pretty successful,” Parry said. “Travel ball really decimates rec ball, so it’s really kind of a step in the right direction to kind of keep girls locally, playing with the girls they go to school with and not put so much pressure on the parents to travel all over.

“We’ve had some girls that went to travel and where they might be girls that get more play in our Xtreme division, (but) in their travel team they don’t play or they maybe play one inning. “They’re all good players, but there’s just a difference in playing time and the community and who you’re playing with, friends with school,” she said.

Lutz Softball transitioned solely to fastpitch play in 2016. Dwindling registration figures forced the league to drop slowpitch, after 37 years. They were the last recreational league in the county to offer that style of the sport.

Parry acknowledged the drastic move to fastpitch has been challenging, particularly in terms of training players the methods of pitching and catching.

So, this season the league is offering free pitching lessons to all registered players, including clinics for beginners and advanced.

Parry put it like this: “It was a big change, especially for some of our older girls who had been pitching for a couple of years because the motion is different, and so we’re still trying to get through that transition. …I think still our biggest hurdle is just getting those girls trained in that area, because when you don’t have a pitcher or a catcher, those games can get really rough, because they’re just walking girls around. It was our biggest struggle in the transition and continues to be our biggest struggle.”

That aside, Parry said Lutz Softball’s registration numbers have been on the increase since the move to exclusively fastpitch.

The league is believed to be the county’s second-largest girls recreation softball league, behind FishHawk .

The Lutz league featured about 200 players and 17 teams in the spring — up from about 160 players a few years ago. Parry expects those numbers to remain steady for the upcoming fall season then “go up a little bit” next spring.

To generate more interest this season, the league is offering a $50 registration discount to families that bring new families and players to the league.

Said Parry, “We’re just trying to get some new families to our parks. We find that once they get there, they really enjoy it. We have a very family like atmosphere and try to include everybody.”

Performance-wise, Lutz Softball is coming off a spring season that saw three of its all-star teams compile strong showings in postseason play.

Its 8U team finished second in districts, third in regionals and fifth in states; 12U placed second at a Babe Ruth all-star warm-up tournament in FishHawk; and 16U won the FishHawk warm-up tournament and finished second at districts.

Besides on-the-field play, the league’s home base at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz is witnessing a makeover. The county’s parks and recreation department recently leveled and re-sodded the complex’s three softball fields with Bermuda grass; side field bullpens, parking lights and a new playground are some other additions.

Said Parry, “This will be our first season playing on the new sod. It’s looking good. Gone are the days of dirt patches and things like that.”

Player registration closes Aug. 24 for the fall season. The season runs from September through November.

For more information, visit LutzSoftball.com, or email .

Published August 21, 2019

Banner year for Lutz soccer team

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It’s a season they’ll surely never forget.

Under the umbrella and storied history of the FC Tampa Rangers soccer organization, the Lutz U13 Lady Rangers’ 2018-2019 campaign will go down as one of the more impressive in memory.

The squad went 34-6-5 overall this season — including an 18-3-2 run since the beginning 2019.

Ranked as one of the state’s top teams and earning a top seed in the Florida State Cup, the year culminated with the girls program’s first-ever appearance in the U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Lutz U13 Lady Rangers recently closed their 2018-2019 season with the program’s first-ever appearance in the U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team finished 34-6-5 on the season. (Courtesy of Kris Carson)

The Lady Rangers were one of just 16 U13 girls teams from the Southern U.S. Youth Soccer State Association to qualify for the tournament, and just one of two from Florida — the other being the Wellington Wave. The tournament also included squads from Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and South Carolina.

They held their own, going 3-1 and reaching the region semifinals.

The regional berth marked a longtime coming for a Lady Rangers team that has kept much of the same corps for more than five years, dating back to U8.

In that way, they’re unlike many of the larger competitive soccer clubs, which pools hundreds of players all throughout Tampa Bay and frequently experiences roster turnover.

When Lady Rangers head coach Chris Cole meets parents inquiring about the soccer club, he poses this question: “Are you looking for your daughter to join a group of players, or, are you looking to join a team?”

With many of the dozen or so girls from the same Lutz community, and nearby Land O’ Lakes and Carrollwood, the squad’s philosophy and longevity has cultivated a tight-knit, family like atmosphere that extends well beyond the practice fields at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex.

“We’re closer than most teams I feel like, instead of just a bunch random girls coming together to play soccer,” said midfielder/defenseman Kaitlin Vinson, a team co-captain.

“I think one of the biggest strengths is how close we are, and we know almost everything about each other, both personally and soccer-wise. … That helps us to build off each other, and just play soccer better, and it’s part of the reason why I think we’re good.”

Fellow Lady Rangers co-captain Chloe Carson agrees.

“Our whole team has a bond,” said Carson, a center midfielder who’s been on the Lady Rangers since its inception. “Even with the new girls, they fit in right away.”

It’s a bond that’s yielded better on-field chemistry over the years for a team now comprised mostly of rising eighth graders.

Carson explained: “We know each other’s skills, each other’s habits, so we know what to do ahead of time, and it helps us work together and keeps our emotions down, which really helps the play of the game. Some teams, you’ll see girls arguing or yelling at each other.”

Cole, a former USF men’s soccer player in the 1990s and former member of the U.S. Armed Forces men’s soccer team, added this of the club team’s congenial dynamic: “As anything with sports and teams that have been together for a while, you tend to know each other’s tendencies and what you do, but that camaraderie off the field really is important. …I think that really shows on the field as far as just feeling comfortable with each other.”

The coach also noted the team’s unselfish nature.

“With these girls teams, there’s not too much drama,” Cole said. “We certainly don’t have that ‘me, me, me’ mentality. We don’t emphasize one player, ‘Get it to this player and let her do everything.’ Really, a lot of playing time is evenly distributed.”

On quick glance, the Lady Rangers are a smaller, more undersized group compared to other programs in their age division.

It’s become something of a motivating factor for Rangers players against larger, more physical opponents.

Vinson put it like this: “When other teams see us, we don’t look that good because most of our players are smaller, and it just gives us one more reason to want to win, because it’s just kind of proving them wrong.”

But, whatever the Lady Rangers may lack in stature, they’ve made up for with skill, speed and cohesion.

The approach served them well — evident in their 185-33 goal differential through the regular season and postseason combined.

“Because of the (lack of) size,” Cole said, “I really emphasized possession with the ball, a lot of touches, and I think that that really has been our forte early, instead of playing kick ball, which a lot of teams do. The quicker we can get rid of the ball, the better for us. We don’t want to be on the ball too long and get knocked off the ball with our size. …That’s the kind of soccer we like to play here.”

Following their banner season, the team’s success appears likely to continue, as much of the roster is expected to join together in U14. It’s also where new, exciting opportunities lie ahead.

The Lady Rangers will be partnering with the IMG Academy’s soccer development academy in Bradenton. IMG officials reached out to the Lutz-based club after seeing them play in the Florida State Cup.

The partnership means practicing multiple times per week at IMG’s world-class training facility and an uptick in out-of-state competition, as the team will regularly match up against elite programs throughout the southeastern United States.

“Every year we look for challenges,” Cole said of the IMG development academy initiative. “It’s a huge opportunity for these girls to consistently play tough teams.”

As part of the IMG development academy, the Lady Rangers are expected to have a larger coaching staff and a handful of new players added to the roster.

Those fresh faces will be a net positive for the club going forward, Vinson said.

“I think it’ll be good for us because we’ve always heard the same things from our coaches because we’ve had the same coaches, and so I think with different coaches and different players we’ll have different perspectives that’ll help us be better,” she said.

2018-2019 Lutz U13 Lady Rangers roster
Head Coach: Chris Cole

  • Chloe Carson (co-captain)
  • Skylar Cole
  • Jolie Farmer
  • Sarah Frazer
  • Jordan Fulop
  • Alexa Gilland
  • Sienna Gillespie
  • Maddie Green
  • Allison Souers
  • Melody Taylor
  • Miranda Valdes
  • Lola Vargas
  • Kaitlin Vinson (co-captain)

Published July 03, 2019

Gaither alum selected in NFL Draft

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Before he became a big-time college football standout at Penn State, Amani Oruwariye could be seen locking down wide receivers on Friday nights at Ron Allen Field at Gaither High School.

Now, Oruwariye is advancing on to the sport’s biggest stage — the National Football League (NFL).

The Penn State defensive back and 2014 Gaither graduate was selected in the fifth round (146th overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 2019 NFL Draft, which wrapped up on April 27.

Before he was an All-Big Ten cornerback at Penn State, Amani Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither High School. He graduated from the local high school in 2014. (Courtesy of Gaither High athletics)

Oruwariye joins the latest in a growing line of Gaither products to be drafted into the NFL.

He’s also the second athlete drafted from the local high school in as many years.

Former Gaither/Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough was selected in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks in last year’s NFL Draft.

As a fifth-round choice, Oruwariye is believed to be the local high school’s highest NFL draftee.

Other known Gaither alums drafted into the NFL include J.R. Russell (seventh round in 2005) and Carlton Mitchell (sixth round in 2010). Current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo (sixth round in 2015) attended Gaither his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Alonso High School.

Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither under former head coach Jason Stokes, and finished his career with 121 tackles and 12 interceptions. His senior year he was named team MVP, earned first-team all-district honors and was invited to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game. Various recruiting services ranked him a three-star prospect and top 100 recruit in the state of Florida.

Oruwariye lived up to that billing and more at the Division I FBS college ranks.

After redshirting his freshman season at Penn State, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back went on to play in 48 career games and develop into a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection.

He tallied eight career interceptions, 20 pass breakups and 108 total tackles in his Penn State career.

His best season came in 2018 as a redshirt senior — leading the Nittany Lions with 12 pass breakups and tied for the team lead with three interceptions, to go along with 51 tackles (two for loss) in 13 starts.

The yearlong performance earned him first team all-conference honors and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football.

The 23-year-old Oruwariye was initially projected by many draft experts to go higher in the draft, given his combination of size, length, athleticism and production at the cornerback position, to go along with an impressive showing at the NFL combine that saw him post a 4.47 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical jump, 16 reps on the 225-pound bench press and 10 feet in the standing broad jump.

In a media conference call following his selection, Oruwariye highlighted his physical gifts, which he figures to translate to the sport’s most competitive level.

“(My size) just allows me to match up with bigger receivers,” Oruwariye said. “It allows me to use my body to my abilities and really dominate at the line of scrimmage, and go up with receivers and make plays on the ball. There’s a lot of strengths that my size brings, and I’m hoping to implement them into my game.”

Although he wasn’t selected as early as anticipated, Oruwariye said he was happy to be given an opportunity, but still is out to prove wrong the other NFL organizations that passed on him.

Oruwariye put it like this: “I knew my time would come, my opportunity would come, so I’m not going to sit there and dwell on what didn’t happen and what should’ve happened. I’m just going to make the other 31 teams that didn’t draft me pay when my opportunity comes and just hold my standard. I’m going to work hard regardless of where I’m picked. It doesn’t matter what day, when, where — I’m going to work hard. That’s just how I am, that’s my standard.”

Oruwariye is expected to report to the Lions three-day rookie minicamp, which runs May 12 through May 14.

He is expected to sign a multiyear contract worth nearly $3 million in total value.

Published May 08, 2019

State champion gymnast has bigger dreams in sight

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Zachary Myers’ gymnastics talent became apparent early on.

When he was just 3, he was doing flips on the couch and performing perfect cartwheels throughout the family’s Lutz home, his parents said.

He’d even tumble around the fields at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex during his Lutz Little League baseball days.

“We could see the natural ability in him,” said his father, Andy Myers. “He’s just got freakish ability.”

Zachary Myers, 10, of Lutz, has won three state titles and two regionals titles as a Level 4, 6 and 7 gymnast. On Oct. 13, he’ll compete in the 2018 Region 8 Future Stars and Technical Sequence Evaluation at Evo’s Gymnastics, in Sarasota. (Courtesy of the Myers family)

During four years of organized gymnastics, the 10-year-old has racked up his fair share of accolades.

He’s captured three state titles and two regional titles as a Level 4, 6 and 7 gymnast, along with winning numerous other local events.

His biggest achievement so far came last November.

That’s when he made the USA Gymnastics National U10 Development Team, after a 14th place finish at the Future Stars National Championships at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Only the top 16 finishers earned a spot on the development team.)

Zachary’s next big event comes Oct. 13, when he’ll compete in the 2018 Region 8 Future Stars and Technical Sequence Evaluation at Evo’s Gymnastics, in Sarasota.

Scoring at least a 76 will again get him to the Future Stars National Championships.

A trip back to Colorado Springs is well within reach.

Zachary recently posted an 82 at the Florida Future Stars Evaluation — the highest mark in the state.

He’s shooting for an even higher score at the region qualifier, as he fine-tunes his training at LaFluer’s Gymnastics, in Tampa.

Said Zachary: “My goal is to get an 85 at regionals. That is a 9.2 average. My coach also wants me to get that to try to make that my goal.”

The young gymnast doesn’t have to look far to see where he gets some of his talent.

His mother, Deanna Myers, herself is a former gymnast and a two-time member of the USA Women’s Junior Olympic Team.

Forced to retire at 18 due to nagging wrist and ankle injuries, she coached and judged gymnastics throughout nursing school.

Deanna, however, was always hesitant about putting Zachary into gymnastics, understanding the  commitment and dedication required for success.

She finally agreed after Zachary’s relentless pleading to get lessons.

Deanna explained: “I didn’t want Zachary missing out on things. When he first said he wanted to do gymnastics, I just kind of brushed it off. But, he consistently asked me for six months straight and then I was like, ‘OK, maybe I need to go ahead and take him.’”

Zachary’s passion for gymnastics remains strong
Though he sometimes misses playing baseball and time for other activities, he wouldn’t trade gymnastics for anything.

“I mean, I really like doing it. It’s just really fun once you get like really good at it,” Zachary said, noting he gets a lot of support from his fellow teammates at LaFleur’s.

His favorite event is the pommel horse, an apparatus fitted with a pair of curved handgrips, used for a gymnastic exercise consisting of swings of the legs and body.

“I like the agility if it. I get to move around and use my arms,” he said. “I used to play baseball and I used to have a lot of arm strength, and I like pommels because I can use my arms.”

That strength — combined with his mental focus and flexibility— has molded him into an elite gymnast for his age group.

LaFleur’s Gymnastics instructor Steven Schmerber said Zachary’s success is a “combination of a lot of things.

“He just kind of has this natural ability,” said Schmerber. “Even though all our other kids (at LaFluer’s) are still doing really well, he kind of has that little extra ‘oomph’ that just kind of pushes him a little bit.

“He’s a tiny dude—very flexible, very strong— so his strength to weight ratio is very big,” the coach added.

Hard work is also part of the equation.

Zachary practices six days a week, for more than 20 hours per week.

During the summer, he’ll practice as much as five hours per day.

When Zachary’s not perfecting his gymnastics routine, he’s buried in his studies.

As a fifth-grader at McKitrick Elementary School in Lutz, Zachary is a member of the National Elementary Honor Society. He has made the principal’s honor roll multiple times and he serves on the school’s safety patrol.

“He doesn’t need any push,” Deanna said. “He does everything without us asking him, so he’s self-motivated on his own. We don’t have to give him any pep talk. We don’t have to remind him to do anything. We don’t have to be concerned or ask him, ‘Hey, did you do your homework?’ because we already knows it’s been done.”

Deanna, meanwhile, is happy to see her son flourish in the sport she also loves. She’s his biggest fan and cheerleader.

“It’s exciting,” she said, “but I have to say, I’m more nervous watching him than when I ever was when I competed. My nerves are more watching him because I have no control, and I can’t go out on the floor.”

While many boys his age are wrapped up in video games and other toys, Zachary is mapping out his gymnastics future.

He’s shooting for a scholarship at Stanford, Michigan or Oklahoma universities.

He dreams of qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics and following in the footsteps of his idol, Sam Mikulak, a five-time U.S. national all-around champion and two-time Olympian.

His plan to achieve those lofty goals?

“Try my hardest,” he said, “and don’t give up.”

For information on Zachary’s fundraising efforts to nationals, visit tinyurl.com/ydhwpoxc.

Published October 10, 2018

Lutz resident re-ups with D.C. United

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After spending the past year with the D.C. United Academy, Adam Hassan is back for more — re-signing with the Major League Soccer club for the 2018-2019 season, to compete on its U-19 developmental squad.

The 5-foot-10 midfielder/defender bypassed his junior year at Steinbrenner High School last August, to enter the D.C. United Academy U-17 program.

Lutz resident and former Steinbrenner High soccer standout Adam Hassan will play on the D.C. United Academy’s U-19 squad. He is among a rare group of a few dozen players chosen to join the Academy, which scouts regionally and internationally for young talent exhibiting professional potential.
(Courtesy of Melissa Hassan)

The Lutz resident earned that opportunity after his game film and a tryout caught the eye of D.C. United staff.

In May, the Washington D.C.-based club formally invited Hassan back for another season.

In a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Hassan called it “an honor” and “very cool” to again don the pro team’s badge.

For him and others, re-upping with the MLS development academy creates a more systematic route to play in college, and perhaps, the pro ranks someday.

He is among a rare group of a few dozen players chosen to join the Academy, which scouts regionally and internationally for young talent exhibiting professional potential.

Through it, Hassan and others have received access to top-caliber coaching and advanced training methods, and have the opportunity to play in arguably the most competitive league in North America, the United States Soccer Developmental Academy (USSDA).

Stepping into a program and league with such prestige was initially surreal for Hassan, who also played club soccer with the Lutz-based Tampa Rangers for several years.

He explained: “I’d definitely say at first, it was a bit intimidating. I mean, you’re walking in with kids over on the (U.S.) national team, or just on their way. I like the challenge. It’s fun, so I was a bit excited as well — a mixture of nervous and excited.”

The uptick in competition wasn’t the only adjustment he had to make.

It was also leaving behind family and friends in Lutz, and gaining familiarity with new coaches and teammates.

“It’s just a completely new environment,” Hassan said, noting it took about a month to really feel comfortable with his surroundings.

Part of that new environment is more structured soccer training, at a higher frequency than high schoolers typically receive.

The D.C. United Academy has been one of the most successful MLS academies. It sent 16 players in 2016 to Division I soccer programs.

It often means practice sessions twice a day, plus more instruction, more drills, more workouts and more competitive matches.

The development teams practice just like the pros, using the same training facilities at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.

“It’s almost like a full-time job,” he said.

“I definitely had to improve my time management skills,” added Hassan, who will also manage his soccer schedule with his Florida Virtual School course load.

“It’s a complete, professional environment,” he said.

He added: “They’re molding us to be the professionals, so they give us the same environment, so we can become the best that we can.”

So far, the move up north appears to be paying off.

By training regularly with Academy coaches, including Ryan Martin and Nate Kish—both experienced former Division I college assistants — Hassan said he’s made definite strides in his overall skill level and touch. His ability to think quickly in game action has improved, too.

Everything has sharpened, he said. “My mind has sped up, because you have to play quickly to compete.”

Hassan also said he straightened out his long-ball — an attempt to move the ball a long distance down the field via a long aerial kick to an attacking player — which, at times, had a tendency to curve away from his intended target.

“I finally was able to fix it and drive it down the line. I was able to get it right where I want it to go, and still at a high pace,” Hassan said.

One noted difference between high school ball and his new team is playing time, where it comes at a premium in development academies.

Back in 2016, Hassan was the only sophomore in Steinbrenner’s starting lineup, playing a total of 1,350 minutes — more than any 10th-grader in school history.

With the D.C. United Academy, however, Hassan has had to grind his way to more action.

He began the 2017-2018 season playing about 5 minutes per game. He eventually worked his way up to playing halves after improving his skills during the course of the season. “You have to inch your way in by slowly working harder and harder, and, correcting all (your) flaws,” he said.

This summer, Hassan has been soaking up his time back in Lutz.

But, he’s also been focused on “getting right back into shape” through an offseason workout and training regimen prescribed by D.C. United Academy staff.

Hassan is set to return to Washington D.C., on Aug. 5.

He’s looking forward to continuing to develop his soccer skills and reconnecting with teammates.

Earning more playing time and making the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs are a couple of his goals for the 2018-2019 campaign. “I always want to get better,” he said.

Hassan, too, hopes to get on the radar college soccer programs this season and earn some college scholarship offers. He also wants to play professionally some day, either in the U.S. or overseas.

He’s seems to be in the right place to do so.

In 2016, D.C. United sent 16 players to Division I soccer programs. Additionally, eight Academy players have gone on to professional homegrown contracts since its inception in 2005.

Published July 18, 2018