The Laker/Lutz News

Gulf High

Pasco County football all-stars will face off on Dec. 10

By

Football bragging rights in Pasco County again are up for grabs — at the upcoming 2021 FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) East-West Classic all-star game.

The seventh annual showcase is slated for Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., at Sunlake High School Field, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The game — organized by the Pasco County Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) — features dozens of the best senior players from 15 county high schools (13 public, two private).

The event is branded as, “the best players from every position, from every school, showcasing their talent.”

Tickets are $10 and can be pre-purchased at any participating high school and at the Sunlake stadium ticket gate on gameday. Tickets also are available online at 2021PascoAllStars.eventbrite.com.

Parking will be $5.

The top senior high school football players in Pasco County will face off in the 2021 Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) East-West Classic all-star game on Dec. 10, at Sunlake High School. The showcase features dozens of the best senior players from 15 county high schools. (File)

Players on the East squad will represent Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills, and Zephyrhills Christian high schools.

Players on the West squad will represent Anclote, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic, Fivay, Gulf, Hudson, Sunlake, Mitchell and River Ridge high schools.

Land O’ Lakes head coach Trac Baughn will lead the East squad and Hudson head coach Tim Hicks will guide the West squad.

Baughn steered the Gators to a 9-1 record, playing an independent schedule.

Hicks led the Cobras to a 6-4 mark, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time within district play since 2013.

To select the rosters, coaches from each county high school gather in a “war room” and draft players from every school, and every position.

After much deliberation, the all-star teams get whittled down to 40 players in the East and 40 players in the West.

Wesley Chapel garnered the most All-Star team selections with nine picks, followed by Zephyrhills (eight), Mitchell (seven), River Ridge (seven) and Sunlake (seven), respectively.

The squads are scheduled to begin practices on Nov. 30, where they will devise various plays and strategies.

The idea for a countywide all-star football game was spearheaded several years ago by FCA area director Bob Durham, upon the suggestion of local FCA board of directors. The directors recommended the annual event, pointing to the success of long-established all-star games in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The Pasco County chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has put on the senior all-star football game every year since 2015. (Courtesy of Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Pasco County)

The local FCA chapter also organizes an annual Pasco County All-Star baseball and softball game in the spring.

The gridiron matchup has proven to be a hit among fans, typically drawing a couple thousand attendees each year.

The all-time series is tied 3-3, though the West team has won the past two years, with scores of  28-0 in 2020 and 23-21 in 2019.

For many players, the showcase provides a chance to perform in front of college recruiters, many of whom attend the game from across the Southeast region.

Though it may signal the last football game ever for some, the event also will feature athletes destined for big-time NCAA Division I FBS football, such as Zephyrhills linebacker Maguire Neal (University of North Carolina at Charlotte verbal commit), Hudson wideout Ladamien Starks (University of Maryland scholarship offer), and Wesley Chapel linebacker Jorden McCaslin (Marshall University scholarship offer), among others.

In addition to the all-star game, players will be recognized at a dinner banquet at Word of Life Fellowship in Hudson, where character awards, courage awards, GPA awards, and various skill awards will be distributed. A “Coach of the Year’” also will be named and voted on by county coaches. An all-star cheerleader team has been assembled for the showcase, too.

The FCA is a 68-year-old ministry in public schools. There are chapters in every high school in Pasco and at five middle schools. Through the many student-led meetings, or “huddles,” that take place on campuses, the FCA works to promote character, integrity, leadership and faith-based principles.

For more information, visit PascoAllStarGame.com, or email Bob Durham at .

Football
East All-Stars
Cypress Creek: Andrew Burgess, Dontrell Clerkley, Colton Corrao, Kione Roberson, Owen Walls
Land O’ Lakes: David Alejandro, Calvin Cockerman, Nick Kleoppel, Xavier Lewis, Hunter Sullivan, Isaiah Tavo
Pasco: Ethan Ayo, Elijah Chilbert, Javon Jeune, Cody Tadlock
Wesley Chapel: Jaylan Blake, Dylan Chana, Sebastian Gutierrez, Ethan Harper, Nehemiah Morgan, Jorden McCaslin, Briac Riles, Ayden Roysdon, Tony Salatino
Wiregrass Ranch: Abram Beer, Nate Kidd, Christian Loaiza, Steven Prevaux, Logan Ridolph, Tucker Schwab
Zephyrhills: TJ Jackson, Tymar McKever, Maguire Neal, Willie Queen, Jackson Rivera, Nick Sheldon, Theotis Smith, Jalen Thomas
Zephyrhills Christian: Austin Henderson, Dontrevius Jackson, Adrian Miller, Donnie Lloyd, Reggie Pry, Demetri Whitehead

East coaches
Head coach: Trac Baughn, Land O’ Lakes
Jason Stokes, Pasco
Cameron Culbertson, Wesley Chapel
Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch
Nick Carroll, Zephyrhills
Mike Smith, Zephyrhills Christian

West All-Stars
Anclote: Gavin Allen, Alec Hale, Daryon James, Quinten Moore
Bishop McLaughlin: Ben Norris
Fivay: Steven Carrol, Zario McCray, Nick Monfre, Melvin Rivera
Gulf: Keonte Adams, Al Blanton, Terrance Henderson, Angel Ortiz
Hudson: Ivan Barahona, Tyler Gauci, Victor Gouveia, Cole Kanehl, Bryan Lindsay, Ladamien Starks, Hunter Young
Mitchell: Adam Buannano, Tyler Geary, Adrian Divcic, Hunter McFarland, Trey Montgomery, Ethan Rice, Deomari Thorpe
River Ridge: Anthony Adams, Mason Cline, John Finch, Tyler Gillespie, Trenton Hawks, Ali Mumtaz, Aiden Schmitz
Sunlake: Owen Campione, Quinn Hewitt, Zeph Johnson, Daniel Lester, Luis Nunez, Kevin Spillane

West coaches
Head coach: Tim Hicks, Hudson
Antony Smith, Anclote
Ken Stills, Bishop McLaughlin
Billy Blair, Fivay
Sean Eperjesi, Gulf
Tim Boggess, Mitchell
Ryan Benjamin, River Ridge
Jordan Gold, Sunlake

Cheerleaders
East All-Stars
Cypress Creek: Faith Welling, Campbell Young
Land O’ Lakes: Peyton Fields, Breana McClung, Paige Randall
Pasco: Haley Enea, Kylie Weiser
Wesley Chapel: Arianna Kiser, Dehlia Lussier
Wiregrass Ranch: Alexis Burns, Chloe Gilligan
Zephyrhills: Emily Kirk, Madison Long
Coach: Ashley Linden, Land O’ Lakes

West All-Stars
Anclote: Crystal Le, Lacey Vey
Bishop McLaughlin: Courtney Deese, Niki Papageorgiou
Mitchell: Hailey Dolen, Colson Gantt
Coach: Mathea Frerichs, Gulf

Pasco County East-West Classic year-by-year results:
2020: West wins 28-0
2019: West wins, 23-21
2018: East wins, 29-22
2017: East wins, 17-14
2016: West wins, 27-21
2015: East wins, 14-2

Published November 17, 2021

School board approves $52.7 million magnet school

By

Work is moving ahead on a new magnet school for sixth- through 12th-grade students, which is expected to usher in a broad array of new opportunities for students.

The Pasco County School Board approved a $52.7 million contract with Ajax Building Company, during the board’s Nov. 2 meeting.

The 6-12 school is planned on an 18.8-acre site within the community of Angeline, south of State Road 52, north of the future Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

The school board, acting as the Pasco County School Board Leasing Corporation, previously approved the sale of bonds to finance the new magnet school and to complete projects at Hudson and Gulf High schools. The sale of $80 million in bond was completed on Nov. 2.

The school site is within Angeline, which is being billed as a wellness community. Angeline will be developed on thousands of acres of land, east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52.

Within that area, Moffitt is planning its Pasco County campus. The cancer center’s presence in Pasco is expected to include a massive research and corporate innovation district. It has site entitlements that encompass 24 million square feet, and include plans for a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multiyear, multiphase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

At a previous school board meeting, Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, reported that Moffitt and Pasco-Hernando State College are working together “to develop a very unique school setting.”

The school is designed for 1,700 students, according to the Ajax contract.

Plans call for a facility with 186,882 gross square feet.

It will have:

  • A one-story administration building
  • A one-story dining/multipurpose area, with a fully functioning kitchen
  • A two-story media and band area
  • A four-story classroom wing

Other parts of the site development include parking, drives, walkway canopies, an aluminum shade system, fencing, a walking trail, sidewalks, underground utilities, landscaping, irrigation and other infrastructure.

Construction is expected to take 18 months, with the closeout taking 1.5 months, bringing the total to 19.5 months, according to the contract.

Substantial completion is expected in April of 2023, with a final completion in June of 2023.

Harvard Jolly is the architect on the school district project.

Published November 10, 2021

Moffitt and Pasco Schools have big plans

By

Pasco County Schools and Moffitt Cancer Center envision great possibilities of working together when the school district builds its planned 6-12 magnet STEAM school on land near Moffitt’s planned campus in Land O’ Lakes.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, recently updated the school board about a meeting between school district and Moffitt staff members.

“We had our first real, live, meeting with the administrative staff of Moffitt Cancer Center. And, it went really very, very well,” Gadd told the school board on Oct. 5.

“On the Angeline property, as the crow flies, is kind of back behind Land O’ Lakes High School, Moffitt is putting in a hospital and a big research center, and we have a school right across the street,” Gadd said.

“That school, we’ll start construction on that, I think, about mid-October. We’ll probably be the first building up out there. And, we are currently working with Moffitt and Pasco-Hernando State College to develop a very unique school setting.”

The campus will serve students in grades six through 12.

“More than likely, the upper classmen will have an opportunity to interact in the Moffitt hospital, with Moffitt researchers; (and) participate in apprentice programs and internships.

“It would be something that is very unique to the Pasco school system,” Gadd said, noting that Dr. Kim Moore, assistant superintendent who oversees the district’s career and technical programs, was at the meeting, as well as Dr. Monica Ilse, assistant superintendent for high schools, and Steve Hegarty, public information officer.

“We had a very, very positive reception from the Moffitt folks,” Gadd said.

In remarks to her school board colleagues, Cynthia Armstrong said it’s exciting “that we’re going to have a magnet school right next to their campus, which is going to be huge. So, we’re very excited about that.”

That meeting was a follow-up to a previous session between Gadd and Dr. Patrick Hwu, president and CEO of Moffitt.

Gadd previously briefed school board members about his meeting with Hwu.

During that briefing, Gadd told board members that he’d “heard through the grapevine that he (Hwu) was a big supporter of education, public education.”

But Gadd added: “My meeting with him was beyond expectations. I went there with a few ideas and he had hundreds of ideas about how our new STEM magnet in the Angeline area could be a partner with Moffitt.”

Gadd noted: “We’d have to work through all kinds of legal issues, as he and I discussed, but having students actually sit in, participate in procedures, surgeries, internships. Having graduate students and doctors actually come to the school building and teach courses and work with us, district-wide on virtual programs for kids, who are in nursing programs, health programs, biomedical engineering and those kinds of things.

“He was exuberant, and we made arrangements to connect my staff with his staff. I am really looking forward to the potential we have to work with Moffitt,” Gadd said.

Funding for the construction of the district’s planned 6-12 school in Land O’ Lakes was approved on Oct. 5, when the school board adjourned, then reconvened as the Pasco County School Board Leasing Corporation to approve $85 million in financing that will pay for the lease‐purchase financing of that school, and projects Hudson and Gulf high schools.

The new Angeline mixed-use community — which is being billed as a wellness-themed community — will be developed on thousands of acres of land, east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52.

Moffitt plans to create a massive research and corporate innovation district.

Site entitlements for Moffitt’s project, which encompass 24 million square feet, include plans for a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multiyear, multiphase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

The school district’s new school in Angeline will be designed for 1,694 student stations, which at 90% capacity translates to about 1,530 students, according to a previous report in The Laker/Lutz News.

The school board hired Ajax Building Company at its Sept. 15, 2020 meeting to do pre-construction work at the 6-12 STEAM school site.

The school is planned on an 18.8-acre site within Angeline, south of State Road 52, north of the future Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard, according to Ajax’s website.

“Campus plans include a one-story administration area, a one-story dining and multipurpose area with a full kitchen, two-story media, band and art areas, and a four-story classroom wing, with all areas connected by a one-story and two-story atrium/central corridor, the website post says.

The site development also includes “walkway canopies, aluminum shade system, fencing, walking trail, sidewalks, chiller/generator plan, site lighting, underground utilities, landscaping and irrigation,” according to information posted by Ajax.

Harvard Jolly is the architect on the school district project.

Published October 13, 2021

Teen panel addresses problems facing youths

By

A trio of Pasco County high schoolers gathered over the summer to share their perspective on youth drug use, mental health and other issues facing their peers — both on school campuses and in the community at large.

The teen activists — Land O’ Lakes High School’s Jocelyn Meriwether, Fivay High School’s Avery Merta and Gulf High School’s Maddie Horn — are part of a group called Safe Teens Against Drugs, or STAND, in Pasco County.

They have a straightforward mission: To end youth substance abuse in the area by educating teachers, law enforcement, business owners and other community members.

They do this by sharing their observations and by suggesting solutions.

The youth group is facilitated by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (Pasco ASAP), which arranged a virtual panel discussion.

Members of Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND) shared insights during a panel conducted during the summer on youth drug use, mental health and other issues facing their peers in Pasco County. Their testimony came during a virtual panel discussion organized by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (Pasco ASAP). (Courtesy of Pasco Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention)

“The mission of STAND is to really empower youth to be agents of change, by strengthening their voices,” Pasco ASAP’s coalition coordinator Kellie Rodriguez said, during the session.

Incorporating adolescent voices in the discussion is critical, she said.

Drug use in schools
The teens’ testimonies of what’s happening within their respective public schools were revealing for health service providers and other stakeholders. That was particularly true regarding the pervasiveness and accessibility of drugs.

Merta asserted students at Fivay High have access to all types of illicit substances — including cocaine, Percocet and LSD.

“A lot of kids get their hands on things they shouldn’t have,” the 17-year-old junior said. “There’s people getting hands on literally everything at my school.”

Horn said marijuana vapes and edibles are an issue at Gulf High School, and beyond.

The 15-year-old sophomore shared a story about a classmate openly selling marijuana-laced brownies to other students in one of her art classes last year.

“It was just wild to see,” Horn said. The sale was out in the open, but because it was a brownie, the teacher wasn’t suspicious.

The prevalence of marijuana vaping is concerning, too, she said.

Horn said these so-called weed pens have been found to have higher concentrations of THC — tetrahydrocannabinol — the main active ingredient of cannabis.

The troubling trend hits close to home for Horn, whose cousin became addicted to the weed pens and experienced withdrawal symptoms.

It was hard to watch, Horn said.

Smoking marijuana remains “one of the biggest drug-related issues” in schools, according to Meriwether, a high school junior and STAND Pasco president.

She said some Land O’ Lakes High students have strategically teamed up to visit different school restrooms simultaneously so if one gets caught, not all of the drugs are confiscated.

Offending students, however, rarely ever were discovered and punished, Meriwether observed.

“Getting caught was not common,” she said.

More school accountability needed
The students also pointed to the need for adults in the Pasco County school district to play a more active role in curbing illicit drug use.

More teachers need to routinely check school restrooms between passing periods “to make sure no one’s doing (anything),” Merta suggested.

Meriweather and Horn said teachers need to listen to what students are saying and pay attention to what they are doing.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been in class and students are like talking very loudly about what they’re about to go do in the bathrooms…and our teachers just kind of overlook it, or kind of don’t react or don’t say anything,” Meriweather said.

She said teachers and other adults should step in and say: “Hey, I hear what you’re talking about. Let’s not do that, you know.’”

More empathy for teens needed
Another major complaint the panelists expressed centered on the general lack of empathy from teachers, guidance counselors and other school-support staff when students experience a panic attack or other mental health episode.

Marijuana usage remains an issue throughout Pasco County high schools, according to a group of students from Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND). (File)

“A lot of times, I’ll be having a panic attack and our teachers will be like, ‘Oh, you need to get back to work, you need to stop doing that,’” Horn said. “It’s really discouraging because I’m going through something and I have these really big emotions and big thoughts, and sometimes I can’t handle (them) on my own.”

Merta agreed: “Most of the teachers actually cause more anxiety by pressuring you into doing something.”

Merta explained — a student can be experiencing some type of anxiety, and instead of helping, the reaction might be: “Do your work. Do this. Do that.’”

Although the counselor at his school is supportive, Merta said, the counselor simply can’t devote enough time to students.

“You can only talk for like 10 to 15 minutes, so it’s not really something that’s worth it,” Merta explained.

Meriwether said it can take more than two weeks to get in to see a guidance counselor at Land O’ Lakes High School.

That’s not helpful during the middle of a panic attack, she said.

Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick chimed in, too.

She agreed with the panel that students need to have easy access to counselors.

“Yeah, they might be working on a specific topic right then, but they should be able to stop what they’re doing and help address a student, because a student is priority,” Fitzpatrick said.

She recommends that teachers be given mental health and anxiety de-escalation training.

Some positive steps forward
Students said they have seen progress, both at school and in the community.

Fivay has installed smoke detectors that can locate vapes, Merta said.

The school district also is instituting human trafficking educational programming at the end of each school year, Merta said.

Meriwether commended the positive presence of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s in schools and in the community. Deputies routinely ask how they can help better serve the area, the teen said.

Horn appreciates the welcoming attitude that Pasco County Schools has toward groups such as STAND.

The group has been invited to elementary and middle schools where information is shared on an array of topics, she said.

The plan to use COVID-19 relief funds to bring on 27 mental health counselors is a good step, Horn said.

To find out more about these issues or STAND, visit EmpoweredCommunities.org, or email .

Published September 22, 2021

School board member cites concerns about funding trends

By

Pasco County School Board member Cynthia Armstrong is calling attention to a trend she finds worrisome relating to state funding for schools.

She made her remarks during the July 27 school board meeting, after she and her colleagues approved the tentative budget for next fiscal year.

Superintendent Kurt Browning provided an overview, highlighting some of the key points of the approximately $1.47 billion budget, which is a decrease of $53.5 million.

Pasco County School Board member Cynthia Armstrong is concerned about a reduction in state funding for schools. (File)

For instance, the budget includes $10.5 million in additional state funding, to accommodate the district’s projected growth of 2,277 students, and recurring expenses.

The operating budget, of $731.5 million, includes the allocation and operating costs for the opening of Starkey Ranch K-8 and the mid-year opening of the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The budget also includes an allocation of nearly $1.6 million to continue to increase the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers, Browning said.

The $351 million capital budget includes the construction of the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, the construction of the 6-12 academy in the Land O’ Lakes area, and major renovations for Hudson and Gulf high schools, he added.

Olga Swinson, the district’s chief finance officer, said the district set aside $5.5 million for COVID-19 retention supplements, for employees who would not qualify under the governor’s bonus plan.

Swinson explained some of the steps necessary to balance the proposed budget.

For instance, she said, “we are moving 30 custodial units to be paid with the Department of Health grant.”

The district also plans to move 35% of the salary of its school psychologists to be covered by funding allocated for mental health needs.

The district additionally used Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief funding for the purchase of textbooks, which is allowed, but for this year only, Swinson said.

It also is transferring about $4.5 million from capital funds to the general fund to cover property insurance costs. Again, that’s for this year only, Swinson said.

Most of the new money received by the district resulted from an increase in property values, Swinson said. “The budget was built on about 6% property increase and we actually saw a 12.4% increase,” she said.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong raised concerns about the level of state funding received by the district and steps the district was forced to take, to maintain a balanced budget.

“You can see that we did use a few non-recurring funds to balance this budget, which is something that none of us like to do,” Armstrong said. “That just means we’re really going to have to dig in hard next year, unless the financial situation improves,” she said.

The board member continued: “I can only say, ‘Thank goodness property values went up, or we really would have been hurting.

“Because if you look at comparing this budget with last year’s, the money from the state that they give us was less than what we received last year,” she said.

The year before, the district received more money than it had the previous year — so it was on an upward trend, Armstrong said.

This year, she said, “despite what the Legislature (says) — how they spin it — when you look at the actual numbers, we actually got less from the state Legislature.

“Those are issues we need to be concerned with because, as we all know, the property values will not continue to go up at the rate that they’re going up,” she said.

She told her colleagues that she was raising the issue, as “kind of a cautionary thing.”

The district must remain fiscally strong to retain its high credit rating, so that it can borrow when necessary at the lowest cost possible, Armstrong said.

The district’s final public hearing on its budget is set for Sept. 14 at 6 p.m., in the board room at district headquarters, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Pasco County Schools tentative 2021-2022 budget
General operating budget: $731.5 million
Capital budget: $351.1 million
Tax millage rate: $5.810
Taxes on a $175,000 home, assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption, would go down $16.80, under the proposed budget.

Published August 11, 2021

Local prep athletes shined during 2021 spring sports season

By

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

All-Star showcase offers lasting memory for Pasco seniors

By

For some, it might represent the final time they compete in an organized baseball or softball game.

For others, it’s a confidence-building stepping stone for the launch of their respective collegiate athletics careers.

Academy at the Lakes All-Star East catcher Josiah Bayona dives for a foul tip during game action against the West All-Stars played at Bishop McLaughlin High School. The West beat the East in extra innings. (Fred Bellet)

For all, it was a special event to cherish and remember.

The fourth annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Pasco County All-Star Baseball and 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.

About 45 baseball players and 26 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.

Besides four designated all-star head coaches, coaches from just about every program pitch in to assist in some form or another.

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

Mitchell High School’s No. 12 Keaton Howard heads back to the dugout after slamming his second home run, ending the extra-inning game against the East.

The West All-Stars reigned supreme over the East All-Stars in both contests.

The West claimed victory in the softball game on a 10-0 mercy rule.

Baseball offered more hijinks, as the West won 11-8 on a three-run, walk-off blast from Mitchell’s Keaton Howard in the bottom of the ninth inning to break an 8-8 tie.

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.

Consider it a swan song, of sorts.

“Think about it — this’ll be the last game that these seniors play, not only for the school year, but for their whole high school career, so we’re sending them out with a big bang,” said FCA Pasco area director Bob Durham, who coordinates the all-star showcase.

Fivay High School All-Star West’s Samantha Proctor gets a hit against the All-Star East team during game action at Bishop McLaughlin High School. The West beat the East, 10-0.

“It’s the best players from every school, getting to play with each other, but against the other side of the county, so they’re pretty excited about it, and they’re ready for their summer, but they’re ready for one more game.

“We just try to make it a special experience for these kids and the parents, and the fans and the community. Every school in the county’s involved, so they try to promote it for a week or two before the game to get some attendance out here.”

Rosters were finalized midway through the regular prep 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.

These coaches “sell their players” to one another, Durham said, until they can all agree upon a final roster. Usually, this exercise takes place in a physical meeting room, but this year the selections were made in a virtual setting on Zoom.

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.

In the awards ceremony, Durham explained athletes were recognized not only for on-the-field accolades and statistics — like countywide leaders in strikeouts and RBIs — but also in exhibiting FCA’s core values of service, integrity, teamwork and overall excellence; athletes gunning for these awards submitted personal stories of how they exemplified these qualities in their day-to-day life.

Recognition was bestowed for highest GPA and character, as examples.

“We want to honor those values in kids,” said Durham, “so we make it special, not only in just a game with skill, but in virtues and character.”

Putting rivalries aside to have fun
Wiregrass Ranch varsity softball coach Yamani Vazquez said the all-star shindig is an opportunity to put school rivalries aside and celebrate together in pre-game festivities and practices.

Fivay High School’s All-Star West player Erik Scott leads off second base, in the extra-inning game.

Ironically, Vazquez’s daughter, Hailey was a standout pitcher at Cypress Creek High School — a rival of the program he coaches.

“This is the moment that everyone comes together,” said Vazquez, who’s involved in the event each year. “They were really in high spirits. It was like they knew each other and were really talking to each other. It’s good, because it brings all teams together, and that’s what it should be, you bring the best players from all the teams, to play together.”

Wesley Chapel varsity softball coach Lauren Pasquale — serving as East All-Star head softball coach — likened the event as “a fun last hurrah” and “the prom of the softball season.”

Pasquale graduated from Zephyrhills in 2011 and went on to play Division I softball at College of Charleston in South Carolina.

A decade ago, she competed in the prestigious statewide Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-Star Classic.

Pasquale didn’t know many of her fellow peers in that event, so there’s something extra special about having a county-specific sendoff for high school seniors, she said.

“Looking back, it would’ve been cool to do this,” Pasquale said, “because it was more kids that you grew up with and played with, so it would’ve been more like a community feel versus a one-in-the-number kind of feel.”

Mitchell High School’s Keaton Howard’s second home run ended the extra-inning game at the fourth annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Pasco County All-Star baseball game. Girls played in the All-Star softball game on an adjacent field.

Wiregrass Ranch varsity baseball coach Marshall McDougall, serving as East All-Star head coach, also characterized the event in a good light: “I think it’s one last time for the kids to go out and have fun, with kids they’ve grown up with, so they’re all the same age, they all play in this area.

“A lot of kids have played together at younger ages and then with different schools, so I think it’s a really good experience they get to play together again, and their parents get to see them play one last time, in a relaxed setting, there’s no stress, and just have some fun.”

A pair of mid-week practices that coaches organized wasn’t about structured drills or high-intensity workouts, but more so about positive messaging as players head off to new endeavors.

McDougal put it like this: “As coaches, you just like to think you can leave an impression on all the kids, about, ‘Hey, baseball’s supposed to be played for the love of the game, have fun with it, you learn a lot of life lessons from it, so just play baseball.'”

That was the general mindset for Cypress Creek pitcher/shortstop Zachary Buelk leading into the contest.

The 6-foot-4 Buelk — primed for college ball at Georgia’s Thomas University — steered Cypress Creek to a 20-6 mark and the 4A regional quarterfinal in early May, posting a 0.51 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched.

“We didn’t get as far as we wanted to (with Cypress Creek),” he said, “so it’s fun to come out here and have one last game, and not really have stress on it; just come out and just play baseball.”

East All-Star teammate Josiah Bayona was a super utility standout at Academy at the Lakes, leading the team in batting average (.361) and stolen bases (33) this season, among other categories.

The county all-star happening has “just been a great experience” for him.

“It’s sort of like one last high school game — a great end to how it should be, compared to the teams here who ended their seasons early, due to just the postseason (losses),” said Bayona, who’s signed with NAIA Webber International University in Babson Park.

He added: “Some of these guys I played with when I was in Little League when we were 7. You know, it’s fun seeing these guys as we’re growing up and now that we’re seniors.”

Academy at the Lakes right-handed utility Vanessa Alexander will continue her softball career at Brown University, a Division I Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island.

Getting picked for the all-star showcase is “really special,” Alexander said, though she acknowledged mixed emotions gearing up for a move some 1,300 miles north of Land O’ Lakes.

“It’s really exciting, but also kind of sad,” Alexander said, before the game. “It’s bittersweet, since this is my last high school game ever, but I’m really excited…to get together and play one last time.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic still on many minds, Alexander said, “I’m really fortunate and glad we were able to play a full season and play this all-star game, which I think is really awesome that they put on every year.”

Sunlake star outfielder Kendra Falby likewise expressed appreciation to organizers for rebooting the all-star event after it was wiped out last year amid the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

“Because of COVID, we haven’t really gotten to do much, so it’s been nice to come together and put something on for us, so it’s been like super special,” Falby said.

Falby has already made quite a name for herself in the sport on a widespread scale — a Division I University of Florida signee and member of the 2019 Canadian U-19 women’s national team. The 5-foot-7 lefty hitter also boasted the state’s seventh-highest batting average (.678) along with eight doubles, six triples and 29 steals, across 18 contests this past year.

Despite garnering more notable accolades elsewhere, being involved with the local showcase still holds meaning for Falby.

“It’s cool,” she said, “because working hard all season and then it paying off and being a part of a very select few, it’s an honor.”

Pasco County All-Star rosters

Baseball-East team
Head coach: Marshall McDougall, Wiregrass Ranch

Academy at the Lakes
Josiah Bayona
Palmer Bringgold
Alex Carmichael
Jacob Syversen

Bishop McLaughlin
Austin Affrunti
Tanner Boccabello
Jacob Duncan

Cypress Creek
Zach Browne
Zach Buelk
Christian Mendez-Rosado
Anthony Menendez
Peyton Petry

Pasco
Bryce Braxton
Robert Hoffman
Lane Mercer
Brian Schildt

Wesley Chapel
Austin Coultas
Tyler Sullivan
Josh Wollerman

Wiregrass Ranch
Jackson Stebleton

West team
Head coach: Howard Chittum, Mitchell

Anclote
Lucas Galati

Gulf
Ian Burchfield

Hudson
Peter Larkey
Tanner Wohlfiel

Fivay
Will Morrison
Erik Scott
Billy Young

Land O’ Lakes
Brian Holliday
Justin Pimentel
Jacob Ward
Hayden Woods

Mitchell
Anderson Adler
Ezra Brennan
James Hill
Keaton Howard

River Ridge
Nick Cotugno
Austin Erickson
Dillon Linares
Tony Luciano

Sunlake
Dylan Broderick
Kory Doerr
Kyle Doran
Giovanni Felix
Collin Robinson
Myles Vacharasin

Softball-East team
Head coach: Lauren Pasquale, Wesley Chapel

Academy at the Lakes
Vanessa Alexander

Bishop McLaughlin
Samantha Bremer

Cypress Creek
Emma Coon
Hailey Vazquez

Land O’ Lakes
Gracie Stanley

Pasco
Hailee Lethco
Ally Jender
Mackenzie Petty

Wesley Chapel
Jillian Torres

Zephyrhills
Laila Huffman
Aleah Killebrew
Gisele Navarra

West team
Head coach: Mark Williams, Gulf

Anclote
Ashley Morrell

Fivay
Samantha Proctor

Gulf
Reanna Wilson

Mitchell
Alandre Coure

River Ridge
Liberty Argudin
Brooke Blankenship
Giulia Desiderio
Katey Hauschen
Laila Mannion
Keira Wierzbowski

Sunlake
Michelle Busot
Kendra Falby
Mikayla Hoschak
Peyton Welch

Published June 23, 2021

Pasco all-star football game on tap for Dec. 17

By

Fans and followers of the Pasco County prep football scene can catch some final gridiron action this December.

That’s because some of the county’s top senior high football players will experience Friday night lights for one final time, at the 2020 Pasco County East-West Classic.

The sixth annual all-star showcase is slated for Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 16351 Hays Rd., in Spring Hill.

The annual senior all-star showcase began in 2015. The East leads the all-time series 3-2, through the West won last year’s contest, 23-21. Team practices for the Dec. 17 game were scheduled to begin Nov. 30. (Courtesy of Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Pasco)

The game — organized by the Pasco County Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) — features dozens of the best senior players from 15 county high schools (13 public, two private).

The game is branded as, “the best players from every position, from every school, showcasing their talent.”

Players on the East squad will represent Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills, and Zephyrhills Christian high schools.

Players on the West squad will represent Anclote, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic, Fivay, Gulf, Hudson, Sunlake, Mitchell and River Ridge.

Cypress Creek head coach Mike Johnson will lead the East squad and Sunlake head coach Trey Burdick will lead the West. The scheduled start date for practices was Nov. 30. The East squad will practice at Sunlake High and the West squad will practice at Wesley Chapel.

To select the rosters, coaches from each county high school gather in a “war room” and draft players from every school, and every position. After much deliberation, the all-star teams get whittled down to 40 players in the East and 40 players in the West.

Mitchell garnered the most team selections with 12 picks, followed by Pasco (eight), River Ridge (seven), Wiregrass Ranch (seven) and Zephyrhills (seven), respectively.

The idea for a countywide all-star football game was spearheaded several years ago by FCA area director Bob Durham, upon the suggestion of local FCA board of directors, who pointed to the success of long-established all-star games in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The game has since proven to be a hit among local fans, drawing thousands of attendees each year.

The East team leads the all-time series 3-2, through the West won last year’s matchup 23-21.

For many of these players, the showcase provides a chance to perform in front of college recruiters, many of whom attend the game from across the Southeast region.

Though it may signal the last football game ever for some, other athletes are destined to play at various NCAA levels, or in the NAIA or junior college ranks.

In addition to the all-star game, players will be recognized at a dinner banquet where character awards, courage awards, GPA awards, and various skill awards will be distributed. A “Coach of the Year’” also will be named and voted on by county coaches. An all-star cheerleader team has been assembled for the showcase, too.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the Bishop McLaughlin stadium ticket booth on gameday. Tickets also are available online at 2020PascoAllStars.eventbrite.com.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a 66-year-old ministry in public schools. In Pasco, there are chapters in every high shool in Pasco and five middle schools. Through the many student-led meetings, or “huddles” that take place on campuses, the FCA works to promote character, integrity, leadership and faith-based principles.

For more information, visit PascoAllStarGame.com, or email Bob Durham at .

Football
East All-Stars
Cypress Creek: Hunter Brinkley, Jake DiMarco, Brycen Hernandez, Gabriel Kolakoff, Collin Ostapchuk
Land O’ Lakes: Tyler Adcock, Zavion McKinon, Garrett Meredith, Issac Tavo
Pasco: Gabriel Barnes, Amir Burgess, Malcolm Gibbs, Josiah Harrison, Devin Jernigan, Jonathan Lee, Jabari Mention, Manuel Torres
Wesley Chapel: Noah Boyd, Duron Croson, Matt Helms, Owen Libby, Tyri Thomas
Wiregrass Ranch: Grady Clower, Larry Gibbs, Broden Guirl, Connor Hogan, Craig Kailimai, Adam Mihalek, Gabriel Thompson
Zephyrhills: Brian Ashmore, Mike Barber, Clayton Cornelius, Tre Gallimore, Jarrin Galyan, Dajuan McCullough, Zyre Roundtree
Zephyrhills Christian: Nick Novo, Bakari Sampson, Jonathan Zelasko

East coaches:
Head coach: Mike Johnson, Cypress Creek
Mark Barnes, Pasco
Trac Baughn, Land O’ Lakes
Nick Carroll, Zephyrhills
Tony Egan, Wesley Chapel
Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch
Lane McLaughlin, Zephyrhills Christian Academy

West All-Stars
Anclote: Jedrek Cordero, Thomas Crawford, Daionta Reynolds
Bishop McLaughlin: Nick Fairweather, Malik Giles, Shane Schull
Fivay: Justin Benson, Autin Blandford, Bryant Brooks, Desean Maytum, Richard Spade
Gulf: Malachi Rohling
Hudson: Derek Aarnio, Trey Angwin, Tim Harris, Chris Keeler, Zach Lewis
Mitchell: Maguire Anderson, Evan Brennan, Ezra Brennan, Cole Castro, Elijah Hadley, Johnny Fairbank, Ronnie Fiumara, Devin Nelson, Gary Shepard, Khamari Smith, Jacob Van Schenck, Greg Washington
River Ridge: Aiden Benjamin, Connor Finer, Grant Deshazer, Robert Marzicola, Robby Rinaldi, Alex Storey, Aaron Wyman
Sunlake: Will Arnett, Julian Galdos, Harrison Moran, Darrell Stevens

West coaches:
Head coach: Trey Burdick, Sunlake
Ryan Benjamin, River Ridge
Matt Durchik, Fivay
Donald Flannery, Hudson
Dan McLeod, Gulf
Andy Schmitz, Mitchell
Antony Smith, Anclote
Ken Stills, Bishop McLaughlin

Cheerleaders
East All-Stars
Cypress Creek: Taryn Clowe, Brooke Sokolowski
Land O’ Lakes: Christina Agovino, Camryn Steele
Pasco: Alyson Partain, Emma Whited
Wesley Chapel: Tatum Hauser, Sydney Taylor
Wiregrass Ranch: Natalie Joles, Avery Warner
Zephyrhills: Madison Aguilera, Brianna Cunningham
Zephyrhills Christian: Leah Bush, Tayler Stanley

West All-Stars
Anclote: Harley Green, Summer Johnson
Bishop McLaughlin: Tania Barbre, Alexis Deese
Gulf: Amaria DeCola, Ella Frerichs
Fivay: Amaree Belser, Kaley Werner
Hudson: Ariana Perri, Ryan Sullivan
Mitchell: Jenna King, Marissa Zullo
River Ridge: Bri Marney, Lexi Smith
Sunlake: Laylah Kibler, Bella Vento

ublished December 02, 2020

Pasco all-star football game on tap for Dec. 8

By

The rosters have been set.

The coaches are named.

Now, event organizers are looking to build off the success of last year’s inaugural Pasco County all-star football game.

The 2016 Pasco County East-West Classic is slated for Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., at Sunlake Field, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The second annual Pasco County East-West Classic is slated for Dec. 8 at 7p.m., at Sunlake Field. (Courtesy of Pasco Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
The second annual Pasco County East-West Classic is slated for Dec. 8 at 7p.m., at Sunlake Field.
(Courtesy of Pasco Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes)

A total of 80 players — all seniors— representing each of Pasco’s 15 high schools were selected in a “draft day” format last month.

Players on the East team will represent Land O’ Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Pasco, Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian Academy.

Players on the West team will represent River Ridge, Ridgewood, Mitchell, Anclote, Hudson, Fivay, Gulf and Sunlake.

The game, organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), had a strong showing in its first year, with nearly 2,000 fans in attendance.

“Last year, being the first time, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Bob Durham, FCA area director. “It was very exciting, and all the events went well.”

The game went so well, in fact, the Pasco County school district has asked the FCA to organize all-star showcase games for other sports, such as baseball, basketball and soccer.

First up: a Pasco County all-star baseball game in May 2017.

“They want us to do a lot of different sports, and we’re honored by the offer,” Durham said. “We just said to them we’re happy to do it…and let’s just take our time and do one sport at a time.”

The idea for a countywide all-star football game was spearheaded by Durham, upon the suggestion of Pasco Area FCA board of directors, who pointed to the success of long-established all-star games in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Durham said high school football coaches in Pasco tried to create an all-star showcase for more than a decade, but plans never materialized, due to constant personnel changes countywide.

For various reasons, it never was executed, he said.

The game, Durham said, gives high school seniors one last chance to perform in front of college recruiters, many of whom attend the game from all across the southeast region.

“A lot of these guys are looking at Division II, or Division III schools. Some have Division I potential, but most are DII or DIII,” Durham explained. “Their season’s over, their playoffs are done, and they get one more game to showcase themselves.”

Wiregrass Ranch head coach Mark Kantor said the game is especially important for players on teams that didn’t advance to the playoffs.

“It gives kids the opportunity for another game to be put on their highlight reel,” Kantor said. “In a setting like this with other good players, it’s always good for them.”

Zephyrhills head coach Nick Carroll said the annual all-star game is “a very good thing” for Pasco County.

“We’ve started a tradition,” Carroll said. “It exposes Pasco County and the best play in it, so…we’re able to show the talent we do have, at different positions.”

Carroll added: “Hopefully we got some recruiters in town…and playing against other top talent throughout the county, it will hopefully shoot (players) up the recruiting boards for colleges.”

Meanwhile, Durham said Sunlake Field might possibly be the permanent home for future Pasco all-star football games.

“It’s such an ideal location in the middle of the county,” he said. “We’ll talk about it, and I’ll just open it up to the coaches, and have them decide it.”

Tickets for the game are $10. For information, visit PascoAllStarGame.com.

East team:
Bishop McLaughlin
Marc Herraera
Joe Mastrino
Louis Valentine
Chris Cigarran
Gilbert Estein

Land O’ Lakes
Erick Marcel
Brayden Lyman
Justin Kren
Dylan Hohenthaner
Spencer Childress
Jared Granruth

Pasco High
Aaron Leslie
Nate Hawkins
Corey Mills
Niko Mirrop

Wesley Chapel
Jacob Thomas
Christian Austin
Donovan Willingham
Ellrie Allen
Kyle Brown
Devon Singletary
Marcus Gillot

Wiregrass Ranch
Ryan Scamardo
Jason Winston
Aaron Beardsley
Chris Faddoul
Matt Welsh
Dylan Bryan
Ramon Rodriguez

Zephyrhills Christian
Mykh’ael Chavis
Hunter Barber
John Emmanuel
P.J. Seekens
Dominic Moss
Kareem Mehrab

Zephyrhills High
Jarrett Black
Kameron Howard
Brett Lemay
Antwoine Sims
Darius Causey

West team:
Anclote
Michael Cannion
Carlos Yglesia
Kyndal James
Braxton Johnson
Taino Arocho

Fivay
Cole Coyne
Brandon Young

Gulf
Kahlil Masson
Issaiah Groen
Bryce Hollenbeck

Hudson
Justin Griffin
Cyler Doran
Jaryd Johnson
Remynte Turner
Ray Pennetti
Spencer Shoun
Corey  French

Mitchell
Mason Castricone
Larry Dalla Betta
Jermane Cross
Anthony Moe
Michael Doyle
Matthew Hegwood

Ridgewood
Javon Wright
Chris Melton
Michael Bautista
Jacob Marsh
Darrin Bright

River Ridge
Trevor Hawks
Dylan Spaeth
Dalton O’Toole
Gabe Angeles
Alex Kostogiannes

Sunlake
Chris Galdos
Ryan Clark
Tyler Peretti
Justin Hall
Chris Williams
Israel Aquino
James Perez

East coaches:
Mike Frump (Land O’ Lakes)
Tony Egan (Wesley Chapel)
Nick Carroll (Zephyrhills High)
Tom McHugh (Pasco High)
Josh Ballinger (Zephyrhills Christian Academy)
Mark Kantor (Wiregrass Ranch)
Tico Hernandez (Bishop McLaughlin)

West coaches:
Matt Kingsley (Anclote)
Justin Fenton (Mitchell)
Gary Allen (River Ridge)
Jay Fulmer (Ridgewood)
John Krupp (Gulf)
Matt Smith (Sunlake)
Matt Durchik (Fivay)
Rob Mahler (Hudson)

Published November 16, 2016

 

Pasco County debuts all-star football game Dec. 10

By

Sunlake head football coach Bill Browning has one more game on the sidelines this year.

It’s not a playoff game.

It doesn’t count in the standings.

He’s not even coaching his Seahawks this time.

Still, it’s an important game.

Pasco's first all-star football game will feature teams made up of seniors representing the East and West sides of the county. (Image courtesy of Bob Durham and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
Mark Kantor of Wiregrass Ranch will lead the East team in the East-West Classic. (File Photo)

“It’s something that a lot of the coaches have wanted here for years. I’ve been pushing for it for a long time,” Browning said. “It will be the very first one. It’s kind of a big deal.”

The big deal is the Pasco County East-West Classic, the county’s first all-star football game. The best of the best will go head-to-head in a contest on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The game, organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, will have players squaring off from opposite sides of the county.

Players on the East team will represent Land O’ Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Pasco, Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian Academy.

Players on the West team will represent from River Ridge, Ridgewood, Mitchell, Anclote, Hudson, Fivay, Gulf and Sunlake.

Sunlake was placed on the West team for competitive balance purposes, Browning said.

Each team features top athletes who were selected by the coaching staff.

Browning is coaching the West team, with the other school’s coaches serving as his assistants. On the East side, the head coach will be Wiregrass Ranch’s Mark Kantor. Each roster of players is made up entirely of seniors.

The teams will only have a few practices together before the contest, so the game plans probably won’t be too complex.

Pasco's first all-star football game will feature teams made up of seniors representing the East and West sides of the county. (Image courtesy of Bob Durham and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
Pasco’s first all-star football game will feature teams made up of seniors representing the East and West sides of the county.
(Image courtesy of Bob Durham and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes)

The game is valuable to the players because if offers one more chance to impress teams at the next level, Browning said.

“It gives an opportunity for college coaches to see them in an all-star game against other very good players,” Browning said. “It’s just really a chance for the seniors to go out, have some fun and showcase their talent.”

For the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, there are additional benefits as well. The group has put in about $20,000 to make the game a reality, and wants area seniors to have another chance to show off their skills. But, they’ll also get a chance to play with teammates and coaches they wouldn’t have met previously, which allows them to foster new relationships and contacts throughout the county.

“They play on their individual teams all year. Now here’s a chance to play with the best from other schools. So there will be bonding, there will be friendships made for life, hopefully,” said Bob Durham, area director for the Fellowship of Christian athletes.

The game also allows coaches to work more closely together and to strengthen their bonds as well. Coaches are instrumental to the FCA, and having them work together is a positive experience for everyone involved, Durham said.

The plan is to make the game an annual event, with head coaching duties and game location possibly rotating from year to year.

Feedback has been positive from everyone involved, Durham said, which isn’t surprising, considering the popularity of football in Pasco County.

“Schools and people and fans love football here, and so this has just been a missing piece of the county in terms of football,” he said. “It fills a void. The community has been looking for this for years, and now it’s finally here.”

Tickets are $10, and parking is $5. Tickets are available at the gate, at the participating schools or at county Beef O’ Brady’s restaurants. For more information, contact Durham at (813) 784-4410, or email .

East All-Star Team 2015 Roster
Scott Edwards, QB                 Bishop McLaughlin

Matt Iovine, QB                     Zephyrhills Christian

Tommie Farmer, SS                Land O’ Lakes

Jackie Tucker, FS                    Zephyrhills

Jakiah Fielder, RB                   Pasco

Brandon Mosley, CB             Wiregrass Ranch

Issac Johnson, CB                  Zephyrhills Christian

Kevin Lee, LB                         Zephyrhills

Tre’un Everitt, RB                  Zephyrhills

Patrick Beatty, LB                  Bishop McLaughlin

Reggie Roberts Jr., CB            Zephyrhills

Jacob Carden, FB                    Zephyrhills Christian

T.J. Lee, LB                            Zephyrhills

Ty DeCaire, LB                      Wiregrass Ranch

Blake Castillo, LB                   Pasco

Mike Mosley, LB                   Wesley Chapel

Greg Smalls, LB                      Land O’ Lakes

Cole Blevins, DL                    Pasco

Colin Hankin, OG                   Bishop McLaughlin

Tristan Pauwels, OG              Wesley Chapel

Alex Ligocki, C                       Land O’ Lakes

Darryus Lowe, DL                 Land O’ Lakes

J’Won Pickett, DL                  Zephyrhills Christian

Naim Smith, OG                     Wesley Chapel

Kendall Graff, OT                  Land O’ Lakes

Jamal Mention, OT                Pasco

Tyler Ichimura, OG                Wiregrass Ranch

Jonah Thomas, OT                 Zephyrhills

Taylor Bleistein, WR              Wiregrass Ranch

Brian Mena, WR                     Wesley Chapel

Rashawn Kindell, WR            Land O’ Lakes

Kyle Kampsen, SS                  Bishop McLaughlin

Chase Oknefski, K                  Wesley Chapel

Marque Davis, DT                 Wiregrass Ranch

Published December 9, 2015