The Laker/Lutz News

Freedom High

Having fun throwing flags, in football

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This ain’t no Powder Puff game.

These athletes bring talents to the football field, passing and running the ball, pulling flags and scoring touchdowns.

And, yes, this is technically a non-contact sport, but these athletes also aren’t pulling any punches. Contact may happen occasionally during this 7-on-7 format because it’s inevitable. And it’s because these teams are good.

Hillsborough County has produced several state champions in this full, varsity sport, regulated by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

Flag Football district tournaments start on April 25.

For now, we’re going to take a look at the four teams in our coverage area and see just how they are set up this season.

Patriots senior Ceniya King (Mike Camunas)

Carrollwood Day
Mascot: Patriots
Coach: Todd Broyles
Division: Class 1A-District 6

Outlook: The Patriots are a young team predominantly made up of freshmen, with just three seniors. However, that hasn’t stopped this team with a hot 4-0 record that outscored its opponents 96-6. The team with its great start looks to continue its winning ways deep into the postseason.

Player Rylee Texter says: “Our defense is pretty on point. Playing flag football is fun and competitive, and it’s not too serious where we get down on each other – we can uplift each other and just have fun.”

Coach Broyles says: “It’s a little cliche, but we’re getting better with every practice and every game. We may be a very young team, but they’re fast learners, very tenacious and quick to the ball. This is a great team.”

Patriots senior Ava Hanzelka

Freedom High
Mascot: Patriots
Coach: La’Shae White
Division: Class 1A-District 6

Outlook: The Patriots were a young team last year under coach La’Shae White, who was in her first season at the helm. And it showed, as they only won two games. This year, they have doubled that total, just five games into the season. Freedom put in a lot of offseason work and conditioning, and are out to show off its vast improvement from last season.

Player Ava Hanzelka says: “Compared to last year, we are doing great. We’ve made a lot of progress as a team and our relationships with one another. We’re a lot closer and we have a lot more fun together.”

Coach White says: “We were really locked in to get better in the offseason and so far its showing. Our girls are very competitive, but this is also fun for them. I think that’s very important to have out here.”

Warriors sophomore Kyra Patterson

Steinbrenner High
Mascot: Warriors
Coach: Greg Puskas
Division: Class 2A-District 7

Outlook: The Warriors are generally one of the better teams in the area, usually getting into some of the rankings. However, Puskas and company have a bit of a youth movement, and are adjusting to new faces. Steinbrenner is a very athletic team and will use several running plays with Kyra Patterson, a speedster that also runs track and field.

Player Elyse Thornton says: “We haven’t started as strong as we normally do, but we’re pushing through. Each game we’ve made progress and sometimes the results don’t show it, but we see how better we’re getting each time we come out.

Coach Puskas says: “We have a really young group, but I think we’re a really good-looking group, too. We’re looking to make a few moves, win some games and get some really good momentum headed into the playoffs.”

Wildcats sophomore Jexenisse Turos

Wharton High
Mascot: Wildcats
Coach: Dylan Shearon
Division: Class 2A-District 6

Outlook: The Wildcats, arguably, have one of the toughest schedules, especially since they faced Newsome in their first week, then Alonso and Robinson, respectively. That’s a tough stretch to open the season, but it better prepares Wharton and its players for the postseason.

Player Kassidy Russell says: “People underestimate the sport because they think it’s just pulling a flag, when really it’s a lot more technical skills and a lot of hard work — but still a lot of fun.”

Coach Shearon says: “Our team has a tendency to focus on the negatives, which we need to stop. We started off on a tough patch, but we got through that, and we’re talented enough to not focus on negatives and be just as good a team as we know we are.”

Published April 20, 2022

Local teams compete in Saladino tourney

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Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wharton baseball teams all competed in the prestigious Saladino Baseball Tournament, held annually during Spring Break.

The Patriots defeated King and Riverview, however, dropped a heartbreak in extra innings to Robinson. The Warriors dropped three tough games against Sickles, Hillsborough and Durant, while the Wildcats lost its opening game to eventual tournament champ, Plant, but won its next two games against Durant and Hillsborough, respectively.

Graduation rates rise in local public schools

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The graduation rate continues to improve in the Pasco and Hillsborough public school districts.

Pasco County Schools charted a 91% graduation rate in 2021, more than a full point increase over the prior year, according to Pasco school district officials.

Hillsborough County Schools recorded a graduation rate of 89.2% — the highest rate in the district’s history, according to the Hillsborough school district news release.

Pasco’s rate has improved by 15 percentage points since 2013, district officials said in a news release.

“We are seeing steady progress year after year,” Superintendent Kurt Browning said in the release. “I can’t say enough about how hard our students worked during a challenging and unusual school year. All our teachers in elementary, middle, and high school can share the credit because it really takes a team effort to prepare students for college, career, and life.”

Cypress Creek High School had the highest graduation rate of 99.4% and Wesley Chapel High posted a 96.6% rate, an increase of more than 3 percentage points.

Fivay High School had a second year of impressive gains, increasing by 6.7 percentage points, after a gain of 6.4 percentage points the previous year.

Hudson High saw the biggest increase, improving by 10 percentage points — up to 86%.

Pasco school district staff also noted that students who graduated in 2021 did so after a highly unusual year of school due to COVID-19. Many missed significant time in school, either due to illness or due to quarantine requirements, a district news release noted.

Because of the COVID-related disruptions, the state waived state assessments required for graduation for the second year in a row, making it difficult to make historical comparisons, according to the Pasco district’s release.

Hillsborough officials were delighted by the district’s record accomplishment.

Hillsborough high schools within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area fared well.

Wharton High charted a 90.9% graduation rate; Gaither, 92.2%; Freedom, 94.1%; and, Steinbrenner, 97.8%.

Sickles High, which is near the newspaper’s coverage area, charted a graduation rate of 98.4%, the highest among Hillsborough public schools.

“I am so excited for our community and our organization for obtaining the highest graduation rate in district history,” Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis said in the school system’s news release. “This is in direct correlation to the hard work and dedication exhibited by our students, caregivers, teachers, school leaders, school counselors, support professionals, and district staff.”

To view the statewide results, visit the Florida Department of Education web page.

Published January 12, 2022

2021 offered special moments in local sports (Part Two)

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This past year levied countless memories in the local sports scene — from shattered records and career achievements for individuals and teams, to several major events and showcases in the area.

Here is a look back at some of the moments in sports in 2021, from across Pasco and Hillsborough counties, in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

(This is Part Two of a two-part series.)

Bishop McLaughlin baseball coach brings major league pedigree
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School tabbed a decorated big-leaguer to lead its pedigreed baseball program, back in August.

His name is Rob Ducey, and he spent parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1987 to 2001 — playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, California Angels, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos.

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School has tabbed former major-leaguer Rob Ducey, pictured, to lead its baseball program. (File)

A left-handed hitting outfielder, Ducey played over 700 games in the majors, posting a .242 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, .396 slugging percentage, with 309 hits, 190 runs, 146 RBIs, 31 home runs and 22 stolen bases.

Ducey later served as a hitting coach in the minor leagues for the New York Yankees, Expos and Phillies; and was a talent scout for the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays.

This baseball lifer status — and one of the very few Canadian big-leaguers — has Ducey enshrined into both the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame (2006) and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (2013).

All told, Ducey has been involved with professional baseball in some shape or form for over 37 years.

And now, the 56-year-old Tarpon Springs resident is taking his varied experiences to the Hurricanes varsity baseball program, which has won five district championships and two regional championships, and has made a pair of state final four appearances

Ducey has clear expectations for the area team he takes over.

“Obviously, I want the pitchers to throw strikes, I want the defenders to handle the baseball, and the hitters to be able to situational hit,” he said, in an exclusive interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

“We may not have the most ability on the field, but you’re going to know that you’ve got to fight, and if we do that every single day we come out and work improves in those areas, then it’ll be a successful year.”

Future NHL stars showcase skills in Wesley Chapel
For a few days, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) next generation of talent skated into Pasco County —  showing puck fans and pro scouts their skills in shot-making, blocking, toughness and teamwork.

AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel was the site of the 2021 NHL Prospect Showcase, held from Sept. 18 through Sept. 21.

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, goalie Hugo Alnefelt, No. 60, blocks a shot by Carolina Hurricane prospect Blaker Murray, No. 85, during action at the 2021 Lightning Prospect Showcase at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel. (File)

Hosted by the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, the event also welcomed prospect teams from the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers.

With it being the Lightning’s turn to coordinate the event, the Wesley Chapel-based facility provided an ideal locale.

The 150,000-square-foot complex — the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States — is known for having four full-sized ice rinks and a mini-rink housed under one roof.

Aside from sheets of ice, the facility was designed to meet various NHL specifications, all the way down to specific railings and glass around the boards.

The facility also features an on-site sports medicine clinic with an evaluation and treatment room; a fully equipped fitness center with over 2,000 square feet of space; and a 90-yard indoor track turf.

Those features, plus the accessibility to on-site hotels and restaurants, as well as nearby Saddlebrook Resort, were other selling factors for the Lightning and other franchises, officials said.

Each prospect team featured a couple players who’ll likely see time in the NHL this year, which only added to the event’s allure.

Twenty-year-old Panthers goalie Spencer Knight fit that description.

Last year, Knight became the first goaltender to ever have played both in the Stanley Cup playoffs and NCAA (at Boston College) in the same season.

Meantime, Lightning fans received a glimpse of the franchise’s wave of younger talent over the course of the four-day competition.

The Lightning’s 24-man prospect squad finished the tournament as the only team with a perfect 3-0 record. They never trailed in any of their three tournament wins against the Hurricanes, Panthers and Predators.

Zephyrhills football volunteers receive permanent honor
Greg First and Kerry Ryman have witnessed their fair share of Zephyrhills High School football games over the last 40 years or so.

They’ve played a notable role over that time, too, with First providing play-by-play as stadium announcer, and Ryman operating the clock and scoreboard.

In many ways, the friendly pair were synonymous with Zephyrhills High athletics.

Friends and family watch as Kerry Ryman and Greg First receive plaques and recognition for their 40 years of voluntary service providing play-by-play and scoreboard duties for the Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs football team. Here, principal Dr. Christina Stanley makes the honor official, during a pregame ceremony. (File)

Because of those varied efforts, the Zephyrhills High press box at Tom Fisher Field in Bulldog Stadium officially was named the First-Ryman Press Box — during a pregame ceremony in October.

The press box dons the volunteers’ names in large black font with an orange backdrop — the school’s signature colors; Zephyrhills students designed and painted the press box’s new look, as a show of gratitude.

Year in and year out, First and Ryman built their respective Friday nights in football season around Bulldog football.

First had to be locked in on all aspects of the game — taking cues from spotters and properly pronouncing players’ names on a particular offensive or defensive play, all while peppering in various school announcements and sponsorships throughout the game, as his voice was heard by everyone from the stadium’s booming sound speakers.

Ryman, meanwhile, had to pay rapt attention to the game’s head official, monitoring various starts and stoppages in action and other game situations, while simultaneously following specific clock and scoring procedures.

As a part of the action for so long, First and Ryman were in on many highs, some lows and countless unforgettable occurrences. “There’s so many memories over the years that you really could write a book,” First told The Laker/Lutz News.

The two men relinquished their press box volunteering duties this season, after serving for some four decades.

Their press box presence may be gone, but it won’t soon be forgotten.

Freedom High swimmer wins state title
Local athletes and teams performed well at the 2021 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Swimming and Diving Championships.

But it was Freedom High senior Michelle Morgan who registered the best individual showing among all area swimmers.

The Division I University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill verbal commit took gold in the 3A 200-yard individual medley, clocking 2:01.06 to finish ahead of Gainesville High senior Katherine Sammy (2:01.90).

Morgan also won the event last year, posting a 2:00.92.

The Freedom High swimmer collected additional individual hardware in 2021, taking silver in the 3A 500-yard freestyle.

Her time of 4:53.78 trailed only Chiles High senior Stella Watts, who swam in 4:46.86 in the event.

Morgan also was a leg on the Patriots’ medal-earning 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relay teams, which finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Other Freedom relay members were seniors Carly Joerin and Alexa Valdez Velez, and freshman Alex LaBohn.

Altogether, Morgan helped pace Freedom to arguably its best showing in program history. The girls squad finished fifth at states, won its first-ever regional title, and also claimed district and conference crowns.

“We had a phenomenal season,” Freedom head swim coach John Olewski wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News. “Assistant Coach Catherine Wright and I are so proud of the Freedom swimmers and divers. The administration, faculty, staff and students of Freedom High School applaud the Freedom Swim & Dive team members and join them in celebrating their many successes this season.”

Lutz native Kevin Cash claims second-straight manager award
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash — a Lutz native and Gaither High product —  became the first American League (AL) manager to win Manager of the Year twice in a row, announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) in November.

The Freedom High School girls swimming and diving team finished in fifth place at the 3A state championships last month in Stuart. The squad collected seven medals, including the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. From left: freshman Alex LaBohn, senior Carly Joerin, senior Michelle Morgan and senior Alexa Valdez Velez. (File)

Also, Cash is only the second manager to win such a BBWAA Manager of the Year Award in back-to-back seasons — joining Bobby Cox, who did so with the National League’s Atlanta Braves in 2004 and 2005.

Cash was recognized for steering the Rays to a franchise-best 100-62 regular season mark in 2021. (However, the Rays playoff dreams ended sooner than expected, losing to the Red Sox in four games in the AL Division Series in October).

He did so under weighty circumstances, with one of the sport’s lowest payrolls, a bevy of injuries (33 different players being placed on the injured list) and a competitive division that featured three other teams that won 90-plus games (Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays).

Besides wins and losses, Cash receives high marks for his ever-changing batting orders, unconventional pitching usage, and ability to maintain a positive culture in the team clubhouse.

Locally, Cash grew up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood across from Lake Park in Lutz, along North Dale Mabry Highway.

His baseball notoriety began as a young boy.

Some three-plus decades ago, he was a 12-year-old second baseman on the 1989 Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.

He later would star at Gaither High and Florida State University through the mid- and late- 1990s before enjoying an eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher.

Published January 05, 2022

Local swimmers make waves at state championships

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Local athletes and teams performed well at the 2021 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Swimming and Diving Championships, held last month at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatics Athletics Center, in Stuart.

The Freedom High School girls swimming and diving team finished in fifth place at the 3A state championships last month in Stuart. The squad collected seven medals, including the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay. From left, freshman Alex LaBohn, senior Carly Joerin, senior Michelle Morgan and senior Alexa Valdez Velez. (Courtesy of John Olewski)

Eleven local schools were represented across the four classifications —  Academy at the Lakes (Class 1A), Carrollwood Day School (1A), Cypress Creek High (2A), Wesley Chapel High (2A), Freedom High (3A), Gaither High (3A), Land O’ Lakes High (3A), Sunlake High (3A), Wharton High (3A), Wiregrass Ranch High (3A) and Steinbrenner High (4A).

Two of these programs registered top-10 finishes — the Freedom Patriots girls team finished fifth among the 46 schools competing in 3A, while the Sunlake Seahawks girls team finished eighth in the same classification.

Other noteworthy team showings came on the boys side in 3A — with Freedom notching a 14th place finish and Wiregrass Ranch a 15th place finish, out of 46 schools, respectively.

Freedom had a banner season — its boys and girls squads each won regional titles for the first time in school history — under the guidance of coaches John Olewski and Catherine Wright.

The Steinbrenner High School swimming and diving team was well-represented at this year’s state championships in Stuart. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School athletics department)

The squads claimed district and conference titles during the season, too.

“We had a phenomenal season,” Olewski wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News. “Assistant Coach Catherine Wright and I are so proud of the Freedom swimmers and divers. The administration, faculty, staff, and students of Freedom High School applaud the Freedom Swim & Dive team members and join them in celebrating their many successes this season.”

Freedom senior Michelle Morgan — a Division I University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill commit —  registered the best individual showing among all area swimmers.

Morgan is a familiar name, for those who follow swimming.

She was one of the state’s top distance swimmers for years and she qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympics Trials in the 400-meter individual medley.

Carrollwood Day School sophomore Adele Sands finished third in the Class 1A 100-yard freestyle (51:50) and fourth in the 1A 200-yard freestyle (1:50.59). (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School athletics department)

At states, Morgan took gold in the 3A 200-yard individual medley, clocking 2:01.06 to finish ahead of Gainesville High senior Katherine Sammy (2:01.90).

She also won the event last year, posting a 2:00.92.

For reference, the state record in the girls 200-yard individual medley is 1:57.07 set in 2009 by then Countryside High’s Melanie Margalis, who went on become an Olympic relay gold medalist for the U.S. National Team.

Morgan collected more hardware, taking silver in the 3A 500-yard freestyle.

Her time of 4:53.78 trailed only Chiles High senior Stella Watts, who swam in 4:46.86.

She also was a leg on the Patriots’ medal-earning 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relay teams, which finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Other Freedom relay members were seniors Carly Joerin and Alexa Valdez Velez, and freshman Alex LaBohn.

Joerin — a Division I Dartmouth College commit — likewise notched robust individual medalist performances, taking fourth in the 500-yard freestyle (5:00.03) and fifth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:08.56).

The Sunlake High School swimming and diving team earned five individual and relay medals at the state meet. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School athletics department)

Also in 3A, the Sunlake girls tallied five medals (or top-eight finishes).

The Seahawks best showing was the 400-yard freestyle relay, which finished in sixth place with a 3:42.12. The squad consisted of seniors Lillian Hilt, Amber Ewald and Leah Fonnotto, and junior Madison Houck.

Carrollwood Day sophomore Adele Sands was another area standout, in the small-school 1A competition. She took third in the 1A 100-yard freestyle (51:50) and fourth in the 1A 200-yard freestyle.

In the boys’ end of the pool, the highest individual finish came from Gaither freshman Aidan Levine, who took sixth in the 3A 100-yard backstroke (52.85).

Levine also was a leg on Gaither’s 3A 200-meter freestyle relay, which finished 16th (1:33.11).

The next best showing was Wiregrass Ranch senior Noah Porter, who earned seventh in the 3A 100-yard freestyle (48.11).

He also took 11th in the 200-yard individual medley (1:59.12) and was a leg on the team’s 200-yard medley relay (ninth, 1:40.98) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:21.40).

Altogether, local boys and girls individual and relay teams combined to register 16 medals (top-eight finishes).

Also noteworthy: The girls state 50-yard free record (22.22) set last year by former Steinbrenner High swimmer Lexi Mulvihill remained intact.

The closest to that mark came in the 1A meet, when South Florida HEAT (Home Educated Athletic Teams) sophomore Erika Pelaez posted a 22.29 — .07 behind the record.

Mulvihill is now a freshman scholarship swimmer for Auburn University.

Results among locals at the state meet:

4A Boys
Steinbrenner (tied 41st place, out of 47 schools)

Events:
50-yard freestyle: Gavin Peck, sophomore (disqualified, false start)
100-yard freestyle: Gavin Peck, sophomore (10th, 47.18)

4A Girls
Steinbrenner (22nd place, out of 43 schools)

Events:
200-yard individual medley: Kayla Daley, junior (16th, 2:11.26)
100-yard butterfly: Kayla Daley, junior (14th, 57.69)
100-yard freestyle: Gavriela Daniels, sophomore (15th, 52.96)
200-yard freestyle relay: Charlotte MacGregor, sophomore; Kayla Daley, junior; Gavriela Daniels, sophomore; Abigail Greene, senior (ninth, 1:38.36)

3A Boys
Freedom (14th place, out of 46 schools)

Events:
200-yard medley relay: Martin Ferrebee, junior; Anthony Murashkin, freshman; Gregory Murashkin, freshman; Sean Thatavakorn, freshman (10th, 1:41.27)
200-yard freesyle: Martin Ferrebee, junior (14th, 1:45.62)
200-yard individual medley: Sean Thatavakorn, freshman (15th, 2:00.69)
100-yard freestyle: Sean Thatavakorn, freshman (12th, 48.82)
500-yard freestyle: Martin Ferrebee, junior (10th, 4:41.90)
100-yard breaststroke: Anthony Murashkin, freshman (15th, 1:02.02)
400-yard freestyle relay: Martin Ferrebee junior; Ethan Udagawa, junior; Brandon Thatavakorn, freshman, Sean Thatavakorn, freshman (11th, 3:19.90)

Wiregrass Ranch (15th)
Events:
200-yard medley relay: Parker Munari, senior; Noah Porter, senior; Robert Childers, senior; Kevin Chen, senior (ninth, 1:40.98)
200-yard individual medley: Noah Porter, senior (11th, 1:59.12)
100-yard freestyle: Noah Porter, senior (seventh, 48.11)
400-yard freestyle: Kevin Chen, senior; Robert Childers, senior; Parker Munari, senior; Noah Porter, senior (13th, 3:21.40)

Gaither (tied 31st)
Events:
200-yard freestyle relay: Aidan Levine, freshman; William Acero Clark, senior; Anibal Utrera, senior; Zachary Cannon, senior (16th, 1:33.11)
100-yard backstroke: Aidan Levine, freshman (sixth, 52.85)

Sunlake (tied 31st)
Events:
200-yard freestyle relay: Tien Duong, junior; Jackson Houck, junior; Connor Canfield, sophomore; Alex Thai, junior (13th, 1:32.37)
100-yard breaststroke: Alex Thai, junior (10th, 1:01.04)

Land O’ Lakes (40th)
100-yard butterfly: Michael McCloskey, junior (ninth, 51.83)

3A Girls
Freedom (Fifth, out of 46 schools)
Events:
200-yard medley relay: Michelle Morgan, senior; Alex LaBohn, freshman; Carly Joerin, senior; Alexa Valdez Velez, senior (fourth, 1:49.36)
200-yard individual medley: Michelle Morgan, senior (first, 2:01.51); Carly Joerin, senior (fifth, 2:08.56)
500-yard freestyle: Michelle Morgan, senior (second, 4:53.78); Carly Joerin, senior (fourth, 5:00.03)
200-yard freestyle relay: Carly Joerin, senior; Alexa Valdez Velez, senior; Alex LaBohn, freshman Michelle Morgan, senior (fifth, 1:39.58)
100-yard breaststroke: Alex LaBohn (15th, 1:09.10)

Sunlake (Eighth)
Events:
200-yard medley relay: Amber Ewald, senior; Lillian Hilt, senior; Piyarmard Edwards, sophomore; Madison Houck, junior (seventh, 1:51.26)
200-yard individual medley: Lillian Hilt, senior (seventh, 2:10.31)
50-yard freestyle: Madison Houck, junior (14th, 24.81)
500-yard freestyle: Leah Fonnotto, senior (16th, 5:22.77)
100-yard backstroke: Madison Houck, junior (seventh, 58.77); Lillian Hilt, senior (eighth, 59.57); Amber Ewald, senior (10th, 58.93)
400-yard freestyle relay: Lillian Hilt, senior; Amber Ewald, senior; Leah Fonnotto, senior; Madison Houck, junior (sixth, 3:42.12)

Wiregrass Ranch (28th)
Events:
50-yard freestyle: Maryam Khalil, senior (tied 11th, 24.60)
100-yard breaststroke: Maryam Khalil, senior (seventh, 1:07)

Wharton (37th)
Events:
100-yard breaststroke: Lauren Blevins, sophomore (12th, 1;07.41)

Land O’ Lakes (No points)
Diving: Lillianna Diberadinis, sophomore (20th, 223.55)

Class 2A Boys
No local schools or individual placed finishers

Class 2A Girls
Cypress Creek (No place)
Events:
1-meter diving Isabelle Le-Nguyen (17th, 204.80)

Wesley Chapel (No place)
Events:
1-meter diving: Jessica Roehrig, junior (21st, 126.40)

1A Boys
Academy at the Lakes (34th, out of 38 schools)
Events:
50-yard freestyle: Nathaniel Smith, sophomore (15th, 22.02)
100-yard freestyle: Nathaniel Smith, sophomore (13th, 23.11)

1A Girls
Carrollwood Day School (18th, out of 44 schools)
Events:
200-yard freestyle: Adele Sands, sophomore (fourth, 1:50.59)
100-yard freestyle: Adele Sands, sophomore (third, 51.50)

Published December 01, 2021

Midseason review of area prep football

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It’s about the midway point for the 2021 Florida high school football regular season.

Here’s a closer look at some of the developing storylines involving teams and players from schools in The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area, within Hillsborough and Pasco counties:

The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs remain an area powerhouse, as they’re off to an impressive 5-0 start under sixth-year head coach Nick Carroll. (Fred Bellet)

Zephyrhills continues dominant ways
The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have once again solidified the team’s place among the upper-echelon programs in Pasco County and the greater Tampa Bay area.

The Bulldogs are off to a 5-0 start, under sixth-year head coach Nick Carroll.

Outside of a narrow 16-12 road win over Lakeland Kathleen in its season opener, Zephyrhills’ other victories have been lopsided affairs over Hernando (43-2 win), Fivay (42-0 win), Wesley Chapel (34-9 win) and Weeki Wachee (48-0 win), respectively.

The Bulldogs have exhibited strong play in all three facets of the game — offense, defense and special teams.

Momentum-shifting takeaways also have been a calling card, as the Bulldogs have nine fumble recoveries and five interceptions to date.

Among the team standouts are senior tailback Jaylin Thomas, senior linebacker Theotis Smith and senior defensive end Maguire Neal, among others.

Zephyrhills is out to improve on its 8-3 mark from last season, which included a string of eight consecutive wins.

Land O’ Lakes enjoying turnaround season
The Land O’ Lakes High Gators strategically opted to go independent this year, rather than play a large-school Class 7A slate.

At 5-0, the Land O’ Lakes High Gators are off to its best start since 2013. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School athletics department)

The decision was made, in part, to give a youthful roster chock-full of freshmen and sophomores more opportunities to have success and compete game-to-game, rather than become discouraged by a daunting large-school schedule.

The move is paying dividends, as the Gators are off to a 5-0 start under second-year head coach Trac Baughn, a longtime college and high school coach mostly throughout Mississippi.

The Gators haven’t been undefeated this far into a season since 2013, when the team got off to a 6-0 start under then-coach Brian Wachtel.

This season has included a nail-biting 28-26 road victory last month over Sunlake High in the annual ‘Butter Bowl’ rivalry game — something the Gators program hadn’t done since 2018.

One of the many bright spots has been sophomore quarterback Kyle Horvath, who’s completing nearly 62% of his throws for 1,023 yards, 16 total touchdowns and no interceptions.

Also of note: Land O’ Lakes junior varsity squad is off to a similarly impressive 5-0 campaign.

Gaither better than record shows
The Gaither High Cowboys entered the 2021 campaign with quite lofty expectations.

The Gaither High Cowboys appear better than their 3-3 record indicates. (Courtesy of Gaither High School athletics department)

After all, last season’s team won 10 straight games before falling to Lake Minneola High in the Class 6A regional final.

And many key contributors from that banner squad returned this year, including a slew of NCAA Division I FBS recruits and national ranked prospects like defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas, defensive end Mario Eugenio, and inside linebacker Kobe McCloud.

Not to mention the impact transfer of South Carolina high school quarterback Brooks Bentley, who has Division I FCS offers and comes from a legacy football family of three brothers who played college football.

But the Cowboys have somewhat stumbled out of the gate, now staring at a pedestrian 3-3 mark.

Their slate has been anything but a cakewalk, however, with multiple close defeats against fellow area powerhouses in Armwood (22-19 loss), Tampa Bay Tech (28-14 loss) and Mitchell (17-14 overtime loss) high schools.

The Cowboys should have a much more manageable schedule down the stretch, against the likes of Steinbrenner, Sickles, Leto and Hillsborough high schools, respectively.

The Pasco High Pirates have had a tough year thus far with a difficult schedule and mounting injuries. (Courtesy of Pasco High School athletics department)

These teams need a rebound
As some local teams have endured surprising — or expected — achievements on the gridiron, other programs are still trying to find their footing entering the second half of the season, be it tough scheduling or otherwise ineffective play.

These squads include Bishop McLaughlin (0-3), Freedom (1-5) Pasco (0-5), Sunlake (1-5), and Steinbrenner (2-4) high schools.

Pasco has had arguably the most challenging go, as they’ve yet to score a point this season, being outmatched by a 156-0 margin.

Moreover, Pasco’s season has faced more turmoil.

Due to mounting injuries, it forfeited its Oct. 1 contest against Ocala Vanguard High and canceled its Oct. 8 game versus Lake Gibson High.

The cancellation against a district foe (Vanguard) means the Pirates will now have to go independent for the remainder of the season, per rules from the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

COVID-19 still impacting play
The COVID-19 pandemic reared its ugly head in the early portions of the 2021 prep football season, with a number of cancellations and postponements across the Tampa Bay area and state as a whole.

Local programs impacted include:

  • Wiregrass Ranch High was unable to play its first two football games of the season because of coronavirus outbreaks from their would-be opponents. It was a flipped script from 2020, when the Bulls missed out on the playoffs after its last game was canceled due to virus issues within its own program.
  • Wharton High was forced to cancel multiple games amid coronavirus concerns, be it contract tracing or positive tests, within its own program. This included a highly anticipated matchup against nationally ranked Tampa Jesuit in early September.

High school football programs in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (4-2)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (1-5)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (3-3)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (2-4)
  • Wharton High School Wildcats (4-0)

Pasco County

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

Published October 06, 2021

Local prep athletes shined during 2021 spring sports season

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As the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most, if not all, of last year’s high school spring sports season, these local athletes and teams made up for lost time in 2021.

Here’s a closer look at some of the more notable moments from the recent prep spring sports season within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — games, events and achievements that couldn’t be celebrated in spring 2020.

Pasco tennis standout secures second state title
If not for the coronavirus outbreak last spring, Pasco High varsity boys’ tennis standout Logan Haga very well could’ve been a three-time state champion.

Pasco High tennis standout Logan Haga, a multi-time state champion (File)

Two will have to do though, when he won the 2021 Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) 3A individual singles state title, downing St. Petersburg High sophomore Peter Keber in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs in late April.

He also defeated Pines Charter’s Sumedh Edavalluri in the finals (6-1, 6-2), Viera’s Leo Da Silva in the semifinals (6-3, 6-2) and Matanzas’ Ilya Korolev in the quarterfinals (6-0, 3-6, 11-9).

Haga also won the 3A individual singles crown as a sophomore in 2019, when he beat Venice’s Benjamin Zipay in the championship draw.

The local tennis star next will be competing at Division I Jacksonville University, in Alabama.

He’s set to join a diverse Jacksonville roster, with new teammates hailing from California, Japan, Italy, England, Ecuador and Slovenia, among other locales.

Haga is a four-star recruit by Tennis Recruiting Network, ranked as the state’s No. 25 prospect and No. 139 nationally.

He’s certainly left his mark at a program not really known as a tennis powerhouse like Wiregrass Ranch or private sports academy like Saddlebrook Prep. He trains regularly at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center.

Land O’ Lakes’ softball finishes state-runner up
After playing in only 11 games during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, the Land O’ Lakes High varsity girls softball program made up for lost time this year.

The Land O’ Lakes varsity girls softball team finished runner-up at the FHSAA Class 5A state championship. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School Athletics)

They finished the 2021 season with a 24-8 mark and earned state runner-up honors after losing 7-6 to Fort Myers High in the Class 5A state championship in Clermont on May 21.

Their run through the state playoffs was impressive, downing Seminole (8-0 win), River Ridge (3-1 win), Palmetto (6-3 win) and Pace (5-4 win) high schools, up until the loss in the title game. The championship game defeat came in excruciating variety, having lead by 3-0 in the top of the first inning, held a 4-3 lead in the fourth and a 6-3 lead in the sixth, until a combination of walks and errors did them in.

Other area teams should beware in the years to come — most of the Gators top contributors are returning next year and beyond, including freshman ace Mia Fields (1.97 ERA, 67 strikeouts and 12 complete games in 96 innings).

The program, led by head coach Mitch Wilkins, has been a powerhouse for some time, also winning a state title in 2017.

Area athletes collect state track and field hardware
Like all other spring sports during 2020, track and field athletes didn’t get an opportunity to showcase their abilities against Florida’s best as competitions abruptly shut down in mid-March last season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Land O’ Lakes High field athlete Issac Tavo won state titles in the discus and shotput events, in the Class 3A championships. (File)

But local performers and schools made up for lost time during the 2021 Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) state track and field championships, at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville.

More than two dozen boy and girl athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area ran, jumped and tossed their way to podium honors, or top-eight finishes, across all classifications at the state meet on May 7 and May 8. (Several others earned top-16 overall finishes in the finals, as well.)

The performances included a handful of individual and relay gold medalists.

Land O’ Lakes senior Isaac Tavo showed his pure strength, taking first-place crowns in both the 3A boys shot put (57-7) and discus (154-0). Tavo bested Tallahassee Rickards sophomore La’Darion Dudley in the shot put (55-1.5) and Milton senior Dominic Lucas in the shot put (151-5), respectively.

Gaither senior Elizabeth Lydon claimed first in the 3A girls pole vault, clearing 11-9.75, narrowly edging Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy sophomore Sydney Nicholson, who cleared the same height but lost on fewer misses.

Sunlake senior Daniella Vance earned top crown in the 3A girls javelin, tossing 119-6, to beat the event’s second-place finisher, Harmony junior Thora Gaston (117-11).

Local schools that earned points in the state meet for their respective classification included Bishop McLaughlin, Carrollwood Day, Cypress Creek, Gaither, Land O’ Lakes, Steinbrenner, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wharton, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

Steinbrenner runner named Academic All-State
Steinbrenner High School senior distance runner Zachary Harrigan in April was named to the 27th annual Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State Team — a recognition program presented by the FHSAA that honors 24 graduating student-athletes (12 boys, 12 girls) who excel in both athletics and academics.

Steinbrenner distance runner Zachary Harrigan (File)

As part of the designation, Harrigan receives a $1,700 scholarship and commemorative medallion.

Harrigan owned a 4.0 GPA and finished top of his class. He lettered in cross-country and track all four years of high school, and was a member of Steinbrenner’s 2019 FHSAA cross-country state championship team. He also was a 2018 state qualifier in track and field.

Off the course and out of the classroom, Harrigan earned more than 225 community service hours working with the Humane Society, Idlewild Baptist Church and Feeding Tampa Bay. He plans on studying pre-medicine at Auburn University in Alabama this fall.

To be eligible for Academic All-State, students must be a graduating senior with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA, and must have earned a minimum of two varsity letters in at least two different sports during their junior and senior year.

Just three other Tampa Bay area student-athletes were bestowed the honor — Plant High’s Brooks Bak and Hartley Hill, and Clearwater Central Catholic’s Kasey Singer.

Spring football returns
Last year’s prep spring football season in Florida was over before it ever got started, when the FHSAA then in late April officially announced the cancellation of all affiliated sports for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.

The Cypress Creek High varsity football team looked to take advantage of the return of the spring football practice season. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek High School Athletics)

Normalcy returned in 2021 — with gridiron followers again having the chance to see the development of area players and teams, some with new coaches, transfers and different classifications.

Florida high schools were allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions from April 26 through May, according to FHSAA guidelines.

The first allowable day for full-contact tackling was May 1. Spring games and jamborees were played throughout late May.

The additional practice period provides players an opportunity to have a routine to add strength and conditioning in the weight room, as well as speed, agility, tackling and game strategy drills, under coaches’ supervision.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their 2020 records):

Hillsborough County: Carrollwood Day School Patriots (5-5), Freedom High School Patriots (0-9), Gaither High School Cowboys (11-1), Steinbrenner High School Warriors (4-3) and Wharton High School Wildcats (7-2)

Pasco County: Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (4-2), Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (4-4), Cypress Creek High School Coyotes (3-7), Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (1-7), Pasco High School Pirates (5-6), Sunlake High School Seahawks (2-6), Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (5-4), Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (4-5), Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (8-3), Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (8-3)

Pasco All-Star Game back on the diamond
The annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Pasco County All-Star Baseball/Softball Game brings together the best senior players, from every school, to compete in one last game for bragging rights between the county’s east and west sides.

The fourth annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Pasco County Senior All-Star Baseball/Softball Game returned to Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. (File)

It returned this year after being canceled in 2020, due to the coronavirus crisis.

Dozens of baseball and softball players were selected for the event, representing the following schools: Academy at the Lakes, Anclote, Bishop McLaughlin, Cypress Creek, Gulf, Fivay, Hudson, Mitchell, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, River Ridge, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

The May 22 games were played simultaneously on adjacent baseball and softball fields at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, in Spring Hill.

The West All-Stars reigned supreme over the East All-Stars in both contests, winning 10-0 in softball and 11-8 in baseball in extra innings.

While winning was important, to players and coaches alike, the showcase was more about capping four years of high school and relishing the prep ballfields one final time with families, friends and teammates, in a relaxed setting.

Rosters were finalized midway through the regular season, where all-star baseball and softball coaches deliberated the best collection of players through a draft format, taking into account offense, defense, and pitching metrics, among other factors.

The all-star event also included an awards dinner banquet the night before, as well as a couple tranquil meetings and practices in the week leading up. The activities led to lasting memories and positive vibes for all involved.

Published June 30, 2021

Locals athletes ink with colleges on National Signing Day

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Dozens of local high school athletes earlier this month signed their letters of intent (LOI) to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day.

It’s a special day held annually on the first Wednesday in February where thousands of athletes nationwide can sign a binding letter of intent with a member school of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

From The Laker/Lutz News coverage area alone, Wharton High registered the most signings with nine, followed by Cypress Creek and Steinbrenner high schools that each reported six apiece.

Academy at the Lakes, Freedom High, Gaither High, Land O’ Lakes High, Sunlake High, Wesley Chapel High, Wiregrass Ranch High, Zephyrhills High and Zephyrhills Christian Academy also were well-represented as part of signing day festivities.

Locals inked to play at the next level for the following sports — beach volleyball, baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, volleyball, softball, swimming and track.

Here is a closer look at some notable area athletes who signed on the dotted line and are expected to make significant contributions at the next level.

Jared Hammill, Wharton, cross-country/track (University of Tampa)
Jared Hammill turned in a banner performance at the 2020 FHSAA state cross-country championships, finishing third overall in the 4A meet — clocking a 15:51.9 (5:06-minute per mile pace).

His time and placing represented was tops among local cross-country runners from all classifications in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. (Meanwhile, the only two runners faster in all of 4A were Rheinhardt Harrison (15:26.9) and Anderson Ball (15:43.5), both teammates at Nease High, in Ponte Vedra Beach.)

The state showcase wasn’t Hammill’s fastest time of the year, however.

That came at the Hillsborough County Championships in October, where he set a new school 5K record — posting a 15:34 to win the meet, besting Tre Rivers’ 15:45.7 mark set in 2018.

Hammill now looks to end his prep running career on an even higher note with the forthcoming track season, likely to compete in the 800-meter, 1600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, as well as some relays. His personal-best in the 800-meter is 2:00.06, 1600-meter is 4:31.91 and 3,200-meter is 9:41.52.

Kiael Kelly, Gaither, football (Ball State University)
Kiael Kelly, a dual-threat quarterback, wasted no time in his lone season at Gaither — transferring in from Tampa Jesuit for his senior year.

Gaither High standout quarterback Kiael Kelly is headed to Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana. (Courtesy of Gaither High School)

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound athlete steered the Cowboys to an 11-1 record and 6A regional final —  completing 63% of his throws for 1,594 yards, 16 touchdowns and four picks, plus 399 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

Kelly also is a member of the renowned Team Tampa 7-on-7 all-star team, which has won multiple national championships since its formation in 2010.

A consensus three-star recruiting prospect, Kelly also received Division I scholarship offers from Bethune-Cookman, Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Liberty, South Florida and Syracuse.

One doesn’t have to look far to see where Kelly’s athletic bloodlines originate.

His father is Kenny Kelly, a former starting quarterback at the University of Miami, who also played Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals in the early 2000s. The elder Kelly also was a four-sport letterman at Tampa Catholic High School in baseball, basketball, football and track.

Lilly Kiester, Freedom, softball (University of Tampa)
Lilly Kiester first hit the big stage back in 2015, when her Team Tampa U12 travel ball softball team ventured to Sacramento, California, to compete in the Amateur Softball Association national championship for that age group.

She’s come a long way since advancing to the prep ranks.

The speedy centerfielder was en route to another strong season as a junior— before the COVID-19 pandemic cut everything short — posting a .452 batting average through eight games, adding eight runs, four RBIs and two extra-base hits.

Kiester was no slouch her prior two years on varsity, either, hitting .365 as a sophomore and .333 as a freshman.

Her career numbers thus far stack up this way: In 52 games played, Kiester has a .366 average, .428 on-base percentage, 64 hits, 51 runs, 24 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Defensively, she has a .941 fielding percentage, 66 putouts and 14 outfield assists during that time.

Meantime, the Freedom Patriots during that time have gone a combined 38-15 with two regional playoff appearances.

Expect more of the same, and maybe then some, this spring.

Academy at the Lakes swimmer McKenna Smith has signed a scholarship with Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina. (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes Athletics)

McKenna Smith, Academy at the Lakes, swimming (Duke University)
McKenna Smith soon will venture into the competitive NCAA Division I swimming ranks after wrapping up a decorated prep career as a seven-time state medalist — which includes recent third-place finishes in the 50-yard free (23.15) and 100-yard free (50.34) at the 2020 Florida High School Athletic Association 1A championship meet.

This goes along with claiming more than a dozen individual regional and district titles combined over her varsity career, plus countless other events and invitationals won.

The sprint freestyler, too, has earned a multiple high school All-American nod for her junior cuts in the 50 free and 100 free. Her personal-best time (in yards) in the 50 free is 23.05, 100 free is 50.11, and 200 free is 1:51.65.

Besides her work in the pool for Academy at the Lakes, Smith swims year-round for Florida Elite Swimming, a club team based in Land O’ Lakes.

A volleyball player as a youth, Smith didn’t begin swimming competitively until the sixth grade.

The watersport has become a family affair, however.

Smith’s younger brother, Nate, an AATL freshman, competed in his first state swim meet this past year, finishing 22nd in the 1A 100-yard free (49.65).

Lilou Stegeman, Steinbrenner, volleyball (University of Albany)
Lilou Stegeman, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, wrapped up an impressive final campaign as a key cog in Steinbrenner’s 17-8 record and 7A regional semifinals berth.

In 55 sets played this season, Stegeman registered 136 kills, 73 digs, 44 blocks and 18 aces, en route to earning All-County honors.

Stegeman also competes for the Orlando Tampa Volleyball Academy, regarded as one of the top clubs in the country.

Stegeman also is an accomplished track athlete — a team captain who was a state finisher in the 100-meter hurdles in 2019. She also ran the 300-meter hurdles, high jump, 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays and 200-meter dash for Steinbrenner.

This coming fall, Stegeman will join a University of Albany volleyball program that won the 2019 America East title — its first since 2011, and sixth conference championship, overall.

Albany head volleyball coach Josh Pickard said the following of Stegeman’s athletic skillset, in a Signing Day release: “Lilou brings great size and presence in the middle. She has competed for a great club and will bring a great knowledge of the game to our squad. She has a great background in multiple sports, which helps her excel in her chosen sport of volleyball. Her upside in volleyball is huge due to her short time in the sport and we are excited to see her grow as a Great Dane.”

Peyton Petry, Cypress Creek, baseball (Saint Leo University)
Peyton Petry has established himself as one of the area’s most productive two-way players — a right-handed pitcher and outfielder —twice earning first team All-Conference honors.

A quartet of Cypress Creek High varsity baseball players signed their National Letters of Intent with various colleges and universities. From left: Peyton Petry (Saint Leo University), Anthony Menendez (Thomas University), Zach Beulk (Thomas University) and Nolan Jamison (Mars Hill University). (Courtesy of Kellie Petry)

Before the COVID-19 pandemic terminated the 2020 campaign, the 6-foot-4 Petry had a  .464/.531/.678 slash line with 12 runs, 9 RBIs and four extra base hits through 32 plate appearances in seven games, paired with a 3.50 earned run average and 27 strikeouts through 12 innings pitched.

Petry’s full sophomore run was likewise noteworthy, with his arm and his bat.

On the mound, Petry fired 36.1 innings to the tune of a 1.35 earned run average, 34 strikeouts, and a 4-1 win-loss mark. At the plate, he posted a .333/.413/.333 line, with five runs and seven RBIs, in 19 games played.

Petry also has garnered widespread recognition around prep baseball circles —  ranked among the top-500 recruits in the nation, according to Perfect Game, the world’s largest baseball scouting service.

In addition to Cypress Creek, Petry plays for the Ostingers Baseball Academy travel ball team, where he’s earned multiple All-Tournament team selections and helped the program win the 2020 Perfect Game 17U Florida World Series in Fort Myers.

Saint Leo head baseball coach Rick O’Dette said this of Petry, as part of a Signing Day news release: “We saw him early as a low to mid 80’s strike thrower who we anticipated in becoming an immediate arm. That has happened even sooner than we have thought. He is now an upper 80’s arm who can throw any pitch at any time. The ceiling is extremely high for him. His work ethic and love to get better is extremely contagious. His future is bright.”

Petry’s younger brother, Ethan, also is a talented ballplayer showing high-level collegiate potential. The Cypress Creek junior third baseman/pitcher is a University of South Carolina commit.

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

Academy at the Lakes
Baseball
Alex Carmichael — Upper Iowa University (Fayette, Iowa)

Football
Sean Saccomanno — Saint Norbert College (De Pere, Wisconsin)

Softball
Vanessa Alexander — Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island)

Swimming
McKenna Smith — Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)

Cypress Creek High School
Baseball
Zachary Buelk — Thomas University (Thomasville, Georgia)
Nolan Jamison — Mars Hill University (Mars Hill, North Carolina)
Anthony Menendez —Thomas University (Thomasville, Georgia)
Peyton Petry — Saint Leo University

Softball
Emma Coon — Lander University (Greenwood, South Carolina)
Hailey Vasquez — Ava Maria University

Freedom High School
Softball
Lilly Kiester — University of Tampa
Erica Wilton — Miami-Dade College

Land O’ Lakes High School
Softball
Emily Proctor — College of Central Florida
Gracie Stanley — Pasco-Hernando State College

Steinbrenner High School
Beach Volleyball
Rebecca Bach — Missouri State University

Football
Brycen Lowe — Carthage College (Kenosha, Wisconsin)

Lacrosse
Matthew Wyatt — Belmont-Abbey College (Belmont, North Carolina)

Softball
Mykayla Parise-King — Mars Hill University (Mars Hill, North Carolina)
Ashley Sholl — Concordia University-Chicago (River Forest, Illinois)

Volleyball
Lilou Stegeman — University of Albany (Albany, New York)

Sunlake High School
Baseball
Dominick Albano — Warner University
Dylan Broderick — Saint Leo University
Trevor Mannarino — Lake Sumter State College

Gaither High School
Football
Nick Bartalo — Charleston Southern University (Charleston, South Carolina)
Kiael Kelly — Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana)
Jordan Oladokun — Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama)
Ricky Parks — University of Utah

Wesley Chapel High School
Football
Matt Helms — Warner University

Wharton High School
Baseball
Zach Ehrhard — Oklahoma State University
Dylan McDonald — Saint Leo University
Frank Micallef — University of South Florida
Michael Rivera — Hillsborough Community College

Basketball
Candice Green — Webber International University

Softball
Tieley Vaughn — University of South Florida
McKayla Velasquez — Ave Maria University

Cross-Country/Track
Jared Hammill — University of Tampa

Lacrosse
McKenzie Watson — Newberry College (Newberry, South Carolina)

Wiregrass Ranch High School
Football
Grady Clower — University of Central Florida
Larry Gibbs Jr. — Warner University
Gabe Thompson — Army West Point (West Point, New York)

Zephyrhills
Football
Mike Barber — Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Football
Nicholas Novo — Apprentice School (Newport News, Virginia)

Published February 17, 2021

Area swimmers make a big splash at state meet

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Records were broken and titles were claimed by area athletes at the 2020 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state swimming and diving championships, held last month at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center, in Stuart.

A total of nine local schools were represented across all four classifications —  Academy at the Lakes (Class 1A), Carrollwood Day School (1A), Cypress Creek Middle High (2A), Freedom High (3A), Gaither High (3A), Land O’ Lakes High (3A), Sunlake High (3A) and Wiregrass Ranch High (3A) and Steinbrenner High (4A).

Two of these programs registered top-10 finishes— the Freedom Patriots girls team finishing eighth among the 41 schools competing in 3A, and the Land O’ Lakes Gators boys team winding up eighth out of the 43 schools competing in 3A.

Another notable combined team showing came from the Steinbrenner Warriors, whose girls team finished 11th (among 32 schools competing in 4A) and boys team went 17th (among 37 schools competing in 4A).

The most striking showings came in the way of individual and relay performances.

On the boys side, Land O’ Lakes senior Zuri Ramsey captured three medals, headlined by his second-consecutive gold medal in the 3A 50-yard free, clocking 20.51. That bested his state title in the event last year, when he posted 20.53.

Ramsey also took second in the 100-yard free (45.87) and fifth in the 200-yard medley relay, teaming with sophomore Michael McCloskey, senior Griffin Sutek and freshman Garret McNab, who combined to post a 1:37.12 in the race.

Ramsey is the younger brother of former Gators standout Jabari Ramsey, who was a three-time state champion in the 100-yard breast and a one-time champion in the 200-yard medley relay — making him the swimmer to win the most gold medals in Pasco County history.

Cypress Creek senior Clyde Crouse captured multiple 2A medals for the second-straight year — placing fourth in the 200-yard medley free (1:42.43) and fifth in the 500-yard free (4:40.35) Last year, Crouse took silver in the 500-yard freestyle (4:34.48) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.01).

Other medals (top-eight finish) were collected in diving by Land O’ Lakes senior Mason Gandy and Cypress Creek freshman Jace Beckwith. Gandy went eighth in the 3A event (scoring 340.55) and Beckwith took seventh in the 2A event (322.40).

Also, Freedom senior Zachary Kopel earned an eighth-place medal in the 3A 500-yard free (4:39.62)

Steinbrenner High senior Alexis Mulvihill won gold and set a state record in the 4A 50-yard free, clocking 22.22. The Auburn University signee also took gold in the 100-yard fly (53.16). (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School)

A slew of banner performances took place on the girls side of the pool, as well.

Most notable was Steinbrenner senior Alexis Mulvihill, who took gold in both the 4A 50-yard free (22.22) and 100-yard fly (53.16).

The Auburn University signee’s 50-yard free time is a new state record.

The previous mark of 22.30 was set in 2002 by Gulliver Prep’s Christina Swindle. Interestingly, Swindle went on to swim at Auburn and competed at the 2003 Pan American Games, winning gold in the 400-meter free and silver in the 100-meter free.

Of note: Mulvihill was about a half-second shy of the national high school swim record in the girls 50-yard free clocked at 21.59 — set in February by Gretchen Walsh, of Nashville, Tennessee.

And, Mulvihill wasn’t the only local girls swimmer to earn a state crown.

Freedom junior Michelle Morgan took first in the 3A 200-yard medley, clocking 2:00.92.

She also took silver in the 500-yard free (4:48.43) and anchored bronze in the 400-yard free relay with senior Hannah Labohn, and juniors Alexa Valdez-Vellez and Carly Joerin, who combined to swim the event in 3:32.58.

Other local female swimmers captured multiple medals, too.

Academy at the Lakes senior McKenna Smith — a Duke University signee — took third in both the 1A 50-yard free (23.15) and 100-yard free (50.34).

Carrollwood Day School freshman Adele Sands medaled in the 200-yard free and 100-yard free, in the 1A state meet. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

Carrollwood Day School freshman Adele Sands went fifth in the 1A 100-yard free (51.96) and seventh in the 200-yard free (1:52.60).

Wiregrass Ranch junior Maryam Khalil went fifth in the 3A 100-yard breast (1:06.53) and eighth in the 50-yard free (24.48).

Land O’ Lakes senior Apryl Paquette took eighth in the 3A 200-yard free (1:57.62) and anchored an eighth-place finish in the 200-yard free relay, teaming with freshmen Jahzara Ramsey and Abigail Hahm, and junior Catherine Pinkos, as the group clocked 1:41.29 in the event.

Other medal performances came out of Sunlake, where it’s 3A 200-yard free relay team took seventh (1:40.17), while senior Isabella Monagas finished eighth in diving (342.25). The podium-earning relay team consisted of sophomore Madison Houck, juniors Amber Ewald and Lillian Hilt and senior Alex Sprague.

Results among locals at the state meet:

4A Boys
Steinbrenner (17th place, out of 37 schools)

Events:
200-yard freestyle relay: Jayden Repak, freshman; Alex Harkness, senior; Shane MacGregor, senior; Gavin Peck, freshman (ninth, 1:27.35)
100-yard backstroke: Shane MacGregor (11th, 52.81)
100-yard breaststroke: Garrett Sykes, junior (16th, 1:01.65)
400-yard freestyle relay: Shane Macgregor; Jayden Repak; Alex Harkness; Gavin Peck (ninth, 3:13.06)

Girls
Steinbrenner (11th, out of 32 schools)

Events:
50-yard freestyle: Alexis Mulvihill, senior (first, 22.22)
100-yard butterfly: Alexis Mulvihill (first, 53.16)
400-yard freestyle relay: Alexis Mulvihill; Emma Brown, senior; Kayla Daley, sophomore; Gavriela Daniels, freshman (ninth, 3:34.30)

3A Boys
Land O’ Lakes (eighth, out of 43 schools)

Events:
200-yard medley relay: Michael McCloskey, sophomore; Griffin Sutek, senior; Garret McNab, freshman; Zuri Ramsey, senior (fifth, 1:37.12)
50-yard freestyle: Ramsey, senior (first, 20.51)
Diving: Mason Gandy, senior (eighth, 340.55)
100-yard freestyle: Ramsey (second, 45.87)
200-yard freestyle relay: McCloskey; Sebastian Arbelaez, senior; McNab; Ramsey (12th, 1:31.58)
100-yard breaststroke: Griffin Sutek (ninth, 59.53)

Wiregrass Ranch (16th)

Events:
200-yard intermedley: Noah Porter, junior (14th, 2:03.21)
100-yard freestyle: Yuheng Chen, junior (14th, 49.30)
50-yard freestyle: Emanuel Silva, senior (12th, 22.17)
200-yard freestyle: Emanuel Silva; Matthew Gomez, senior; Noah Porter; Yuheng Chen (10th, 1:31.03)
400-yard freestyle relay: Noah Porter; Matthew Gomez; Emanuel Silva; Yuheng Chen (ninth, 3:19.97)

Freedom (25th)
500-yard freestyle: Zachary Kopel, senior (eighth, 4:39.62)

Gaither (tied 41st)
100-yard freestyle: Zachary Cannon, junior (15th, 49.64)

Girls
Freedom (eighth, out of 41 schools)
200-yard intermedley: Michelle Morgan, junior (first, 2:00.92)
50-yard freestyle: Hannah LaBohn, senior (tied 15th, 24.15)
100-yard freestyle: Hannah LaBohn (10th, 53.77)
500-yard freestyle: Michelle Morgan (second, 4:48.43); Carly Joerin, junior (11th, 5:03.06)
400-yard freestyle relay: Hannah LaBohn; Alexa Valdez-Vellez, junior; Carly Joerin; Michelle Morgan (third, 3:32.58)

Sunlake (14th)
200-yard medley relay: Amber Ewald, junior; Lillian Hilt, junior; Madison Houck, sophomore; Alex Sprague, senior (ninth, 1:53.64)
50-yard freestyle: Alex Sprague (tied 13th, 24.92)
Diving: Isabela Monagas, senior (eighth, 342.25)
200-yard freestyle: Madison Houck; Amber Ewald; Lillian Hilt; Alex Sprague (seventh, 1:40.17)
100-yard backstroke: Madison Houck (13th, 1:00.39)

Land O’ Lakes (23rd)
Events:
200-yard freestyle: Apryl Paquette, senior (eighth, 1:57.62)
Diving: Madison Burnstein, senior (20th, 199.75)
200-yard freestyle relay: Jahzara Ramsey, freshman; Abigail Hahm, freshman; Catherine Pinkos, junior; Apryl Paquette (eighth, 1:41.29)

Wiregrass Ranch (tied 24th)
Events:
50-yard freestyle: Maryam Khalil, junior (eighth, 24.48)
Diving: Abby Galo, junior (12th, 307.20)
100-yard breaststroke: Maryam Khalil (fifth, 1:06.53)

2A Boys
Cypress Creek Middle High (tied 19th, out of 48 schools)
200-yard medley freestyle: Clyde Crouse, senior (fourth, 1:42.43)
Diving: Jace Beckwith, freshman (seventh, 322.40)
500-yard freestyle: Clyde Crouse (fifth, 4:40.35)

Girls
No local schools or individual placed finishers

1A Boys
No local schools or individual placed finishers

Girls
Academy at the Lakes (18th, out of 48 schools)
50-yard freestyle: McKenna Smith, senior (third, 23.15)
100-yard freestyle: McKenna Smith (third, 50.34)

Carrollwood Day School (tied 20th)
Events:
200-yard freestyle: Adele Sands, freshman (seventh, 1:52.60)
100-yard freestyle: Adele Sands (fifth, 51.96)

Published December 09, 2020

New principal embraces chance to lead Steinbrenner

By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ewell hasn’t regretted the move.

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

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

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

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

By Joey Johnston

Published July 29, 2020