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Pasco County School District

Two new STEAM magnet schools coming to Pasco?

March 16, 2021 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County school district is looking to convert Centennial Elementary School in Dade City and Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey, from traditional elementary schools into STEAM magnet schools.

The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Students now assigned to Centennial and Marlowe would be reassigned to nearby schools, and a lottery system would be used to assign students to the new magnet schools.

If the district proceeds with this plan, the change would not occur until the 2022-2023 school year, and boundary hearings would not occur until this coming fall, according to Steve Hegarty, district spokesman.

The issue came up at the Pasco County School Board’s March 2 meeting, when Don Peace, president of United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), complained about the district’s handling of future staffing for the two schools.

Peace objected to the new job description for STEAM magnet teachers.

“Normally, for contract waivers, major changes in curriculum — such as Wendell Krinn (Technical High School), Pine View (Middle) and Gulf Middle  — or school closings, as in Hudson Elementary, Ridgewood, and the Lacoochee proposal, USEP is invited to go to the school, along with district staff, to explain the contractual protocol for what is about to transpire.

“That did not happen with these two schools.

“In fact, when I first heard the details of what was transpiring, I had a district employee make a phone call to put a stop to what was going on. But that did not happen.

“Interviews took place, in an unacceptable manner, for jobs that do not yet exist, at schools that have not yet been voted to be closed, and for a job description that is yet to be approved.

“It appears the cart is in front of the horse,” Peace said.

Peace then told board members that approving the proposed job description would, in essence, create an elite position.

“Why would you want to create divisiveness among teachers?” the union president asked district officials.

“I would contend that with training, professional development and proper guidance, there are numerous teachers across this district that would be able to work in a STEM/STEAM school and be highly successful, if given that opportunity,” he said.

Peace suggested the board delay voting on the new job description, and instead hold a workshop to discuss the issue in greater detail.

Superintendent Kurt Browning responded to the assertions.

“I agree with Mr. Peace when it comes to the fact that any of our teachers, given the opportunity and the professional learning, could probably make it work in a STEM or STEAM environment.

“What Mr. Peace didn’t mention is what I call the ‘want to’ (factor). Do you want to put the effort into working at a STEM or STEAM school?

“We learned lessons when we converted Bayonet Point Middle and Centennial Middle. We did not have a separate job description for that. Honestly, it was more difficult to set the expectations for our staff.

“I will tell you that this job description, in no way, shape or form, is — as Mr. Peace has indicated — divisive. It is not intended to do that. It is merely to set expectations, for teachers that want to move to a STEM or STEAM environment.

“It is different, a lot more technology-driven, project-based learning.

“It is a choice school,” Browning said.

When the schools held faculty meetings to discuss the change, a number of teachers approached the principals and said, “I get it. I just don’t want to do it,” Browning said.

The new magnet schools will choose teachers based on the new job description.

While current teachers may be assigned to different schools, they will not lose their jobs, Browning said.

Before approving the new description, school board members asked for more information.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong asked for more details about how the job description was developed. Board member Alison Crumbley echoed that request.

Samantha Del Valle, assistant director of leading and learning, said “we knew we needed a job description to really be transparent with the staff that we’re going to hire and to share with them what would be expected, as they take those positions.”

So, the job description is based on the practices that happen in a STEAM classroom.

Hiring will mirror the process used in hiring teachers for Sanders Elementary STEAM Magnet School in Land O’ Lakes, Del Valle said.

The questions district officials asked, when drafting the new job description, included: “What is a STEAM teacher? What practices are happening in the classroom? What does STEAM look like and how do we make sure that that occurs in our two new schools?” Del Valle said.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin emphasized that she wanted it to be clear to district teachers that the new job description does not create an elite class of teachers.

“We’re not saying that these teachers are any better than any other teachers. These are just a specific skill set needed for these types of schools. I don’t want to give the impression that we’re saying that teachers at one school are any better than teachers at another school,” Beaudoin said.

Besides looking for teachers who have the attributes described in the job description, they also must be willing to undergo additional training, Del Valle said.

Plus, there is a preferred qualification related to computer science.

Browning reiterated Beaudoin’s point, noting the teachers are not better teachers.

“They’re different teachers.

“This job description was not designed to divide teachers,” the superintendent insisted.

He also said the shift to the STEAM magnet schools is intended to give parents additional options.

“Parents are wanting something different,” Browning said.

Published March 17, 2021

All-Pasco County winter awards announced

March 16, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) Eastside encompasses Cypress Creek, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills high schools.

High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2020-2021 winter sports season, which included basketball, competitive cheerleading, soccer, weightlifting and wrestling.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

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

Winter Sports (Boys)

SAC East All-Conference Boys Basketball
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch (three-way tie)
Coach of the Year: Marvin Gray, Wesley Chapel
Player of the Year: Nate Santana, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
Sam Lowe, Wesley Chapel, senior
Nate Santana, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Quincy Smith, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Kevin Pagan, Zephyrhills, junior
Josh Martin, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Second-Team
Jaden Louden, Wesley Chapel, junior
Dylan Figueroa, Sunlake, senior
Kennen Ayala, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Jimmy McAuley, Zephyrhills, junior
Willie Ravenna, Cypress Creek, senior

Honorable Mention
David Barr, Sunlake, senior
Peyton Williams, Cypress Creek, senior

SAC East All-Conference Boys Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch
Offensive Player of the Year: Alec Santiago, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Amis, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Forward: Ethan Sternberg, Sunlake, senior
Forward: Justin Amis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Midfielder: Mick Stauffer, Sunlake, junior
Midfielder: George Obregon, Wesley Chapel, junior
Midfielder: Aidan Ettouati, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Defenseman: Patrick Amis, Wiregrass, senior
Defenseman: Derek Isajar, Sunlake, senior
Defenseman: Sammy Salas, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Defenseman: Jarrett Scheer, Wesley Chapel, senior
Goalkeeper: Luigi Morales, Sunlake, junior
Utility: Alec Santiago, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Utility: Parker Wallace, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
Forward: Sebastian Victoria, Sunlake, senior
Forward: Ayden Roysdon, Wesley Chapel, junior
Midfielder: Lucas Herrera, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
Midfielder: Colton Corrao, Cypress Creek, junior
Midfielder: Juan Sanchez, Pasco, sophomore
Defenseman: Ryan Fischer, Sunlake, junior
Defenseman: Colin Bailey, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Defenseman: Trevor Harden, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Goalkeeper: Logan Grace, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Utility: Andrew Knorowski, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Utility: Jesus Trujillo, Pasco, senior

Honorable Mention
Alex Nesbath, Zephyrhills, junior

The Land O’ Lakes High varsity boys wrestling program captured its first Sunshine Athletic Conference championship in some two decades. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Boys Wrestling
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Eddie Marley, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
106-pound: Devin Lanier, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
113-pound: Stephen Carrico, Sunlake, junior
120-pound: Brandon Austin, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
126-pound: Orion Magoon, Sunlake, junior
132-pound: Morgan Ray, Land O’ Lakes, senior
138-pound: Jack Evans, Pasco, senior
145-pound: Nicholas Iserino, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
152-pound: Johnathan Cardona, Cypress Creek, senior
160-pound: Devin Jernigan, Pasco, senior
170-pound: Jarod Wright, Land O’ Lakes, senior
182-pound: Chance Kiuber, Pasco, senior
195-pound: Amir Burgess, Pasco, senior
220-pound: Cassidy Grubbs, Pasco, sophomore
285-pound: Dajuan McCullough, Zephyrhills, senior

Second-Team
106-pound: Cole Henderson, Land O’ Lakes, junior
113-pound: Jason DeSantis, Cypress Creek, junior
120-pound: Donavan Eury, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
126-pound: Roman Sanchez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
132-pound: Jaiden Martinez, Zephyrhills, junior
138-pound: Jackson Hudson, Cypress Creek, junior
145-pound: Ryan Lebsack, Land O’ Lakes, junior
152-pound: Idael Reyes, Zephyrhills, junior
160-pound: Justin Bethards, Sunlake, senior
170-pound: Ben Clark, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
182-pound: Elijah Newman, Land O’ Lakes, senior
195-pound: Wilson Meisman, Cypress Creek, freshman
220-pound: Isaiah Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, junior
295-pound: Isaac Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Savion Spaights, Pasco, senior

Winter Sports (Girls)

SAC East All-Conference Girls Basketball
Team Champion: Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Chris Smith, Zephyrhills
Player of the Year: Maya Llanes, Zephyrhills

First-Team
Maya Llanes, Zephyrhills, junior
Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Mia Nicholson, Wesley Chapel, senior
Lily Meier, Sunlake, freshman
Emari Lewis, Wesley Chapel, junior

Second-Team
Mykaela Elliot, Wesley Chapel, junior
April Davis, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Jakayla Lewis, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Mikayla Cintron, Zephyrhills, junior
Sariyah Waller, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Adrianna Villanueva, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Hayli Carter, Pasco, freshman

SAC East All-Conference Girls Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Vicky King, Land O’ Lakes
Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Green, Land O’ Lakes
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel

First-Team
Defender: Katelyn Hicks, Sunlake, junior
Defender: Kylie Denney, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Defender: Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel, senior
Midfielder: Maya Hinz, Sunlake, sophomore
Midfielder: Maddy Golka, Wesley Chapel, junior
Midfielder: Jordan Green, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Forward: Inna Neves, Sunlake, freshman
Forward: Jordyn Keene, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Goalkeeper: Kobi Page, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Utility: Madison Poe, Zephyrhills, junior
Utility: Ellie Klem, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Second-Team
Defender: Kayla Ojeda, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Defender: Abbie Pittman, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Defender: Samantha Lanson, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Midfielder: Jada Silvest, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Midfielder: Taylor Denney, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Midfielder: Hannah Fulop, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Forward: Alison Souers, Cypress Creek, freshman
Forward: Teresa Rodriguez, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Goalkeeper: Ella McGahey, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Utility: Marianna Portillo, Wesley Chapel, freshman
Utility: Roxana Meillon, Pasco, junior

The Sunlake High varsity girls weightlifting team enjoyed another dominant campaign, taking conference, district and regional titles, and finishing in fifth place at the 2A state championship meet. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletic Department)

SAC East All-Conference Girls Weightlifting
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Denise Garcia, Sunlake
Athlete of the Year: Andje Costa, Cypress Creek

First-Team
101-pound: Andje Costa, Cypress Creek, junior
110-pound: Gabriella Schwarz, Sunlake, junior
119-pound: Ana Graves, Sunlake, junior
129-pound: Madison Guincho, Sunlake, senior
139-pound: Madison Aguilera, Zephyrhills, senior
154-pound: Grace Anne Hoback, Sunlake, senior
169-pound: Daniella Vance, Sunlake, senior
183-pound: McKenna Gilpin, Sunlake, junior
199-pound: Autumn Spoon, Zephyrhills, sophomore
Unlimited: Diamond Cowart, Zephyrhills, senior

Second-Team
101-pound: Isabella Paul, Sunlake, junior
110-pound: Alexandria Blake, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
119-pound: Tristan Rooney, Sunlake, senior
129-pound: Amber Wood, Sunlake, junior
139-pound: Makiyah Nickerson, Sunlake, sophomore
154-pound: Carolina Crim, Sunlake, sophomore
169-pound: Avary Davis, Pasco, sophomore
183-pound: Ava Rodriguez, Sunlake, sophomore
199-pound: Ashlee Cummings, Pasco, junior
Unlimited: Juliana Garcia, Sunlake, senior

Honorable mention
Victoria Vaile, Wesley Chapel, junior
Erin Welch, Land O’ Lakes, senior

The Wiregrass Ranch High varsity girls competitive cheerleading squad won the 2020-2021 ‘Best of Pasco’ county championship meet. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletic Department)

SAC East All-Conference Competitive Cheerleading
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Maya Hines, Wiregrass Ranch
Cheerleader of the Year: Laylah Kibler, Sunlake

First-Team
Avery Warner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Natalie Joles, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Alyson Partain, Pasco, senior
Emma Whited, Pasco, senior
Emily Kirk, Zephyrhills, junior
Brianna Cunningham, Zephyrhills, senior
Laylah Kibler, Sunlake, senior
Emma Barton, Sunlake, senior
Camryn Steele, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Taryn Brown, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second-Team
Alexis Burns, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Ella Peckham, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Grace VanBuren, Pasco, senior
Sydney Stanaland, Pasco, senior
Baylee Todd, Pasco, senior
Madison Long, Zephyrhills, junior
Mackenzie Florez, Zephyrhills, junior
Emma Travis, Sunlake, freshman
Abigail Berberich, Sunlake, senior
Christina Agovino, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable mention
Sydney Taylor, Wesley Chapel, senior
Haley Cogan, Wesley Chapel, junior

Published March 17, 2021

She ushered in a broader selection of healthy food choices

August 18, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

If you want to know about the legacy of Julie Hedine, the recently retired director of Food and Nutrition for the Pasco County School District, you should rewind to the days when school menus were different.

You should think about the jumbo chocolate chip cookie.

Of course, it was wildly popular with the students.

It was also an extremely profitable item, adding to the program’s financial flexibility. But, Hedine knew better.

“When she told us we should back away from those cookies and focus on healthy items, we all agreed with her,’’ said Rick Kurtz, who hired Hedine in 1995 as the county’s first registered dietician and then selected her as the replacement for program director in 2012.

“She took a lot of heat for that. But, she knew it was best to move away from the jumbo chocolate chip cookies — because that was the best thing for kids. That’s how she always operated,’’ Kurtz said.

Julie Hedine recently retired from the top job in Pasco County Schools’ department of Food and Nutrition Services. (Courtesy of Pasco County School District)

Hedine, who oversaw 750 employees and a $38-million annual budget, was there when the last fryer was removed from Pasco’s school kitchens.

She piqued the interest of vegetarians — and all students, really — by introducing hummus platters. She prided herself on the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables — every day.

She made the dollars stretch and maintained great relationships with vendors, always keeping new food trends in mind. She standardized menus and recipes throughout the county, for a more efficient approach.

When Hedine took over, Pasco had 38 schools/feeding stations. Now there are more than 80.

“We grew significantly and lot of things changed, but we always tried to keep it interesting for the students and follow trends,’’ Hedine said. “We wanted our students to want to eat with us. It doesn’t do any good to put out a meal that kids have no interest in eating, no matter how healthy it is.

“You have to find a happy medium, where you are satisfying nutritional requirements, but also making it enticing for students to participate,” she said.

Hedine, born and raised in Phoenix, was food and nutrition director for the Scottsdale (Arizona) School District before moving to Florida, after her marriage. She spent one year with the Hillsborough County School District before shifting to Pasco’s dietician position.

Kurtz already knew bigger things were ahead.

“She was director material from the day she walked in, so I’m grateful that she stayed with Pasco and didn’t leave for something else,’’ Kurtz said. “I knew we needed a registered dietician. I wanted one slightly moderate, child focused and someone bright. Julie brought all of that, plus she has such a happy personality, a contagious laughter and that was great to have in our office.

“She knew nutrition. She was bright enough to work the numbers and figure out how to do things within the constraints of our program. She was the perfect choice to take over and take the food program to another level, which she certainly did.’’

Hedine will pass the reins to Stephanie Spicknall, her assistant, secure in the knowledge that the Pasco food and nutrition program is on solid ground.

What will Hedine miss?

The people.

“I loved working in the field, as I called it, getting in the kitchen to help and collaborate,’’ Hedine said. “I wasn’t able to do that as much as I would’ve liked. You might need to work on budgets or attend meetings. My favorite part was being there, being involved.

“We had a lot of employees, but it’s amazing how many of them I got to know. And, of course, the students are why you do it. I could’ve gone in a number of different directions with my career, but my passion has been making sure kids are fed a healthy meal. Kids are who kept me in this business all these years,” she said.

But, Hedine also attended to many non-glamorous details, such as the standardization of protocols to ensure food safety.

Kurtz put it this way: “I think flexibility and managing all the little things no one wants to think about really define Julie. Managing waste. Offer versus serve. Making sure kids get what they want and not having them just take things and throw them away.

“All these things are so important to the program, both fiscally and for the overall environment issues,” he said.

After a 25-year career with the Pasco County School District, Hedine had been contemplating retirement. In the spring of 2019, just before the school year concluded, her health cast a deciding vote.

She also had suffered from headaches, but they began coming with more intensity. She felt fatigued and her vision seemed off. She worried when she couldn’t write in a straight line. A doctor diagnosed her with a cancerous brain tumor — Glioblastoma, which also afflicted John McCain and Ted Kennedy — so she underwent surgery.

Her husband, Gary, also was battling cancer. In fact, they underwent radiation treatments together. They both agreed it was time to seize the day.

“As much as I loved my job, it’s time to do other things and spend time with my husband,’’ said Hedine, who will split time between Florida and their place in Cape Cod. “I will still undergo treatment and I’ll be watched closely for the rest of my life.

“I’m very goal-oriented and I didn’t want to leave until some things were accomplished. But, I have to take care of myself. I think COVID-19 may have validated the timing of the decision also. My career was wonderful, but now it’s time for the next chapter. I have nothing but fond memories.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published August 19, 2020

All-Pasco County winter awards announced

March 18, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2019-2020 winter sports season, which included basketball, competitive cheerleading, soccer, weightlifting and wrestling.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

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

The Sunlake High varsity boys basketball team finished 17-8 this season and reached the district finals. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School athletics)

Winter Sports (Boys)
SAC East All-Conference Boys Basketball
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: David Puhlaski, Land O’ Lakes
Player of the Year: Mekhi Perry, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
Chase Farmer, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Jordan Golden, Sunlake, senior
Dontae Marchman, Zephyrhills, senior
Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Mekhi Perry, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, senior
Matt Webster, Pasco, sophomore
Ethan Jones, Wesley Chapel, senior
Jacob McCaslin, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Josh Bent, Sunlake, senior

Honorable Mention(s)
Joe Vreeland, Cypress Creek, senior

SAC East All-Conference Boys Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Justin Pelliccia, Cypress Creek
Offensive Player of the Year: Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben McQuay, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Logan Grace, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Ethan Sternberg, Sunlake, junior
Justin Amis, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Joey Maulorico, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Carter Corrao, Cypress Creek, senior
Alec Santiago, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Sebastian Victoria, Sunlake, junior
Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Ben McQuay, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Jake Bierhorst, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Derek Isajar, Sunlake, junior

Second-Team
Jaxon Landry, Sunlake, senior
Spencer Rawlings, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Jared Jimenez, Pasco, senior
Jori Ndrita, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Carlos Morales, Zephyrhills, senior
Landon Craven, Pasco, senior
Mario Garcia, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Sam Salas, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Brock Montei, Sunlake, junior
Alex Bronnan, Cypress Creek, junior
Julian Padilla, Pasco, senior

Honorable Mention(s)
Destin Rogers, Wesley Chapel, senior

The Pasco High varsity boys wrestling team won an SAC conference championship. (Courtesy of Pasco High School athletics)

SAC East All-Conference Boys Wrestling
Team Champion: Pasco
Coach of the Year: Tim Maples, Pasco
Wrestler of the Year: Zach Spicer, Sunlake

First-Team
106-pound: Donavan Eury, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
113-pound: Deshawn Creary, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman
120-pound: Orion Magoon, Sunlake, sophomore
126-pound: Dante Reese, Land O’ Lakes, senior
132-pound: Travis Knowlton, Pasco, senior
138-pound: Jacob Thornton, Pasco, senior
145-pound: Jake Koener, Sunlake, junior
152-pound: Kevin Johnston, Pasco, senior
160-pound: Devin Jernigan, Pasco, junior
170-pound: Savion Spaights, Pasco, junior
182-pound: Zach Spicer, Sunlake, senior
195-pound: Amir Burgess, Pasco, junior
220-pound: Theotis Smith, Zephyrhills, sophomore
285-pound: Cayman Wiseman, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
106-pound: Jason DeSantis, Cypress Creek, sophomore
113-pound: James Day, Zephyrhills, freshman
120-pound: Exavier Beckwith, Wesley Chapel, junior
126-pound: Kyle Dickerson, Pasco, senior
132-pound: Morgan Ray, Land O’ Lakes, junior
138-pound: Jackson Hudson, Cypress Creek, sophomore
145-pound: Jack Evans, Pasco, junior
152-pound: Idaael Reyes, Zephyrhills, sophomore
160-pound: Collins Bogie, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
170-pound: Renso Fernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
182-pound: Chance Kuber, Pasco, senior
195-pound: Zavion McKinnon, Land O’ Lakes, junior
220-pound: Cassidy Grubs, Pasco, freshman
285-pound: Dujuan McCullough, Zephyrhills, junior

Honorable Mention(s)
Briac Riles, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

The Wesley Chapel High School varsity girls basketball team went 26-4 and reached the Class 4A regional final. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School athletics)

Winter Sports (Girls)
SAC East All-Conference Girls Basketball
Team Champion: Wesley Chapel
Coach of the Year: Peter Livingston, Wesley Chapel
Player of the Year: Kayla Grant, Wesley Chapel

First-Team
Kayla Grant, Wesley Chapel, senior
Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Arianna Rivera-Heppenstall, Wesley Chapel, senior
Taija McCullough, Zephyrhills, junior
Daisy McQuain, Sunlake, senior

Second-Team
Mia Nicholson, Wesley Chapel, junior
Natalie Rodriguez, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
April Davis, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Emari Lewis, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Honorable Mention(s)
Evelyn Randall, Pasco, sophomore
Adrianna Villanueva, Cypress Creek, freshman

SAC East All-Conference Competitive Cheerleading
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Danielle Hammer, Wiregrass Ranch
Cheerleader of the Year: Sarah Spitzig, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team
Sarah Spitzig, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Laura Madison, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Lauren Jones, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Gabriela Miller, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Emma Flannery, Pasco, senior
Kristal Prado Zapata, Wesley Chapel, senior
Layla Gilyard, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Taryn Clower, Cypress Creek, junior
Brooke Sokolowski, Cypress Creek, junior
Brianna Cunningham, Zephyrhills, junior

Second-Team
Christina Agovino, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Mayah Ocasio, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Camryn Steele, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Emma Runkel, Land O’ Lakes, junior
Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, senior
Julia Thomas, Sunlake, senior
Sydeny Taylor, Wesley Chapel, junior
Laynye Longley, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
Brooke Pudoka, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Alyssa Pollicita, Cypress Creek, sophomore

SAC East All-Conference Girls Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Jen Craven, Land O’ Lakes
Offensive Player of the Year: Avery Damjanovic, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel

First-Team
Ashley Doers, Land O’ Lakes, senior
Nisa Cahoon, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel, junior
Jada Silvest, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Gaby Cardenas, Wesley Chapel, senior
Kylee Ehmann, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Avery Damjanovic, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
Jordan Green, Land O’ Lakes, freshman
Madison Holcombe, Wesley Chapel, junior
Maddy Golka, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
Avery Wild, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
Katelyn Hicks, Sunlake, sophomore
Kelsey Kadlub, Pasco, junior
Jaydean Ireland, Zephyrhills, senior
Ashley Roth, Sunlake, senior
Abby Murphy, Cypress Creek, senior
Kaylei Koschman, Wesley Chapel, junior
Amaris Hamilton-Grein, Wesley Chapel, freshman
Raegan Bourne, Cypress Creek, senior
Kobi Page, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore
Rylee Humphries, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Delaney Sanders, Cypress Creek, senior

SAC East Girls Weightlifting
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Denise Garcia, Sunlake
Athlete of the Year: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake

First-Team
101-pound: Andje Costa, Cypress Creek, sophomore
110-pound: Gabriella Schwarz, Sunlake, sophomore
119-pound: Madison Guincho, Sunlake, junior
129-pound: Delaney Pratt, Sunlake, senior
139-pound: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, senior
154-pound: Sarah Davis, Zephyrhills, senior
169-pound: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, senior
183-pound: Brianna Caban, Sunlake, senior
199-pound: Antoinette Farmer, Sunlake, senior
Unlimited: Sarita Alzate, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second-Team
101-pound: Alexandria Black, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
110-pound: Savannah Lee, Wesley Chapel, senior
119-pound: Gianna Long, Sunlake, freshman
129-pound: Asia Wilmer, Zephyrhills, junior
139-pound: Gianina Rios, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
154-pound: Madison Aguilera, Zephyrhills, junior
169-pound: Alyssa Kremer, Land O’ Lakes, senior
183-pound: Lakisia Thomas, Zephyrhills, senior
199-pound: Kyleigh Smith, Zephyrhills, senior
Unlimited: Juliana Garcia, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention(s)
Moriah Tucker, Pasco, freshman

Sunlake student wins ‘Outstanding Senior’ honor

December 11, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

Whether its focusing on rigorous academics or taking part in extracurriculars and church activities, Sunlake High’s Alexis Paredes enjoys being busy.

Actually, “having so much to do” is how the 17-year-old senior thrives best.

“I like to keep moving. I know if I don’t, I’ll get bored,” she said.

Sunlake High School senior Alexis Paredes has been awarded Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior Award. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

It’s that self-starter mindset that earned Paredes the Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior Award.

The annual honor is bestowed based on academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and  commitment to school and community.

Students considered for the award are nominated by the student body, principals, faculty and staff. Nominees from each of the 16 Pasco County high schools then are interviewed by a panel of Pasco County Schools district employees and community members who ultimately narrow the selection to one student to represent the school system.

Paredes marks the second Sunlake student to win the honor in as many years, joining Jillian Gordy who won the district’s 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior Award.

Paredes was humbled to win the prestigious countywide honor.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t even expected to get outstanding senior for my school, much less district,” she said. “I still can’t believe that I beat the ‘best of the best.’”

Her resume, though, indicates she’s deserving.

She maintains a 4.4 weighted grade point average while taking multiple Advanced Placement classes.

She is a representative in the school’s student council, secretary of the school’s National Honor Society Chapter, and a member of a youth leadership at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes.

Yet, her involvement in the school’s Junior State of America (JSA) chapter is what she considers her “biggest accomplishment” and the one that makes her most proud.

The nationwide organization labels itself as a nonpartisan debate and activism club.

Paredes serves as the school’s JSA club president and also holds the title of the organization’s chapter internal affairs agent for the Southeast region, where she keeps tabs on other JSA chapter presidents throughout Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia. She summed up the role like this: “Basically, I get to contact different chapter presidents and make sure their chapters are running efficiently and giving them advice on how to run their chapter, how to structure a meeting, how to build fundraisers.”

Alexis Paredes, Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior, stands alongside Sunlake High principal Michael Cloyd. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Paredes, a JSA member since her freshman year, said the club is “something I’m really passionate about, because I’m very much for activism and fighting political apathy.”

She also noted that JSA is “a great avenue to talk about politics, to talk to kids my age that may not agree with me, but may agree with me as well, and try to see a compromise or unity.”

Along with that, Paredes is spearheading a daylong convention in January that will bring together up to 300 students from other JSA clubs throughout the Tampa Bay area, to debate such issues like gun control, capital punishment, reparations for slavery, mandatory vaccinations in public schools, merits of the Electoral College, and more.

The event’s keynote speaker is former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell.

Paredes has dreamed of organizing such a convention “since probably my sophomore year. “We’re going to have a bunch of kids come and debate…and just share in the spirit of democracy,” she said.

The Sunlake senior has other big plans ahead, too.

In the fall, she will be attending the University of Chicago on a full-ride academic scholarship. She plans to major in political science, then attend law school with hopes of someday going into politics and becoming a policymaker.

Paredes chose the out-of-state university “because it’s obviously a prestigious school, but at the same time, it’s a little more modern than Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale.”

The school’s bevy of music concerts and location in the heart of the Windy City were some other major selling points, she said.

Besides her own drive and motivation to be successful, Paredes credited her mother and grandmother as being big influences, as well as some “amazing” teachers at Sunlake.

She said the classes she’s gotten the most out of are social studies classes at Sunlake, such as AP Human Geography and U.S. History. Those types of subjects, she said, taught her “a lot of life lessons.”

She quipped: “You wouldn’t think the Compromise of 1850 would be relevant to a 17-year-old in 2019, but I found learning about history teaches me about the present as well…”

As the senior gears up for her final semester at Sunlake, she’s already looking back fondly on her many memories on campus.

The amount of school spirit that radiates among the student body and faculty stands out, in particular, she said.

“Something I’ll definitely miss is the community, like the sense of unity our school has,” Paredes said. “If you go to our football games, we’re always riled up. We’re screaming cheers. We have a great sense of community spirit.”

She added: “I feel like our clubs are pretty solid, too, so if you’re joining a club, you don’t feel like it’s useless. You feel like the kids want to be there, the sponsors want to be there.”

Published December 11, 2019

Pasco All-Conference spring awards announced

June 5, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2018-2019 spring sports season, which included baseball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track & field, and weightlifting.

Selections were made for both the East and West division for all sports except lacrosse, which consisted of combined All-Conference teams.

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

Recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Spring sports (Boys)
All-Conference Boys Lacrosse

Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: TJ Fitzsimons, Wiregrass Ranch
Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Ferrini, Mitchell
Defensive Player of the Year: Mikel Macias, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Robbie Sinibaldi, Mitchell, junior

Ryan Farquhar, Wesley Chapel, junior

Ryan Furlong, Sunlake, junior

Jacob Schwarz, Sunlake, junior

Nick Ferrini, Mitchell, senior

Marc Ciccone, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Mikel Macias, Sunlake, senior

Alex Perugini, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Sam Saunders, Wesley Chapel, senior

Caleb Embry, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Payton Risinger, Mitchell, senior

Sean O’ Brien, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Christopher Slay, Wesley Chapel, senior

Kyle Santiago, Wesley Chapel, senior

Jalen Seales, Sunlake, freshman

Josiah Barness, Sunlake, senior

Noah Midthun, Mitchell, junior

Donovan Passarello, Sunlake, sophomore

Jason Mazursky, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Honorable Mention
Marshall Mengel, Sunlake, senior
Aren Rosales, Wesley Chapel, senior
Colton Billett, Sunlake, junior

East All-Conference Baseball
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes
Coach of the Year: Marshall McDougall, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Catcher: Ray Camacho, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: Matt Snyder, Cypress Creek, junior

Infielder: Ethan Frasca, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Infielder: Dakota Harris, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Infielder: Nick Plaisted, Sunlake, junior

Outfielder: Austin Coultas, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Outfielder: Peyton Petry, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Outfielder: Patrick Groark, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Utility/DH: Dawson Place, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Brian Holiday, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Catcher: Noah Johnson, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Infielder: Ethan Petry, Cypress Creek, freshman

Infielder: Spencer Stephens, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Infielder: Bryce Braxton, Pasco, sophomore

Infielder: Robert Boser, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Outfielder: Chris Ferguson, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Outfielder: Zachary Showalter, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Outfielder: Arvind Latchana, Cypress Creek, freshman

Utility/DH: Nick Jennings, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Ricky Dunn, Zephyrhills, senior

The Wiregrass Ranch High boys tennis team captured its 10th straight district championship and eighth straight regional championship this season. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys Tennis
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Kanishkh Ramesh, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

First Team All-Conference
Kanishkh Ramesh, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Jonathan Judy-Hansen, Zephyrhills, senior

Logan Haga, Pasco, sophomore

Destiny Okungbowa, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Caelen Arreola, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Adam Mansour, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Josh Abrams, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Takashi Xu, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Ryan Kantor, Sunlake, junior

Jake Albrighton, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Kai Penalosa, Cypress Creek, freshman
Dillon Kemble, Wesley Chapel, junior

The Sunlake High boys and girls track & field teams both captured conference and district titles during the 2018-2019 season. The boys program also won a regional title, while the girls finished regional runner-up. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys Track & Field
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randal Reeves
Track Athlete of the Year: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel
Field Athlete of the Year: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills

First Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Sunlake) Dominic Burleson, senior; Luke Scheid, junior; Cade Whitfield, sophomore, Ludcheel Colas, junior

110-meter hurdles: Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

100-meter dash: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior

1600-meter run: Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior

4×100 relay: (Zephyrhills) Maguire Neal, freshman; Ja’Quan Sheppard, senior; Clayton Cornelius, sophomore; Cartrell Strong, senior

400-meter dash: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior

300-meter hurdles: Brian Parker, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

800-meter run: Luke Scheid, Sunlake, junior

200-meter dash: Donte Sol, Wesley Chapel, senior

3200-meter run: Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior

4×400 relay: (Sunlake) Issac Taveras, junior; Ludcheel Colas, junior; Cade Whitfield, sophomore; Luke Scheid, junior

Shot Put: Kasean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Pole Vault: Shayne Tenpow, Sunlake, senior

High Jump: Isaiah Burns, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Long Jump: Jacquez Mobley, Pasco, senior

Triple Jump: Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, senior

Discus: Joey Perez, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) Alejandro Medina, senior; Alex Morales Ramos, junior; Sebastian Hernandez, sophomore; Anthony Dimarco, junior

110-meter hurdles: Abdullah Mbowe, Sunlake, senior

100-meter dash: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

1600-meter run: Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, junior

4×100 relay: (Wesley Chapel) Donte Sol, senior; Brandon Hitch, senior; Jelani Vassell, senior; J.T. Anderson, sophomore

400-meter dash: Alex Hayden, Wesley Chapel, junior

300-meter hurdles: Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, freshman

800-meter run: Ludcheel Colas, Sunlake, junior

200-meter dash: Keith Walker, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

3200-meter run: Drew Knobl, Sunlake, junior

Shot Put: James Kirkley, Sunlake, senior

Pole Vault: Chandler Tucker, Land O’ Lakes, senior

High Jump: Gabriel Vazquez, Cypress Creek, senior; Michael Adeshina, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Long Jump: Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, senior

Triple Jump: Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, senior

Discus: Isaac Tavo, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

The Zephyrhills High boys weightlifting team won both conference and district titles this season. They also finished regional runner-up. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys Weightlifting
Team Champion: Zephyrhills
Coach of the Year: Chris Barrick, Zephyrhills
Athlete of the Year: Caleb Huff, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
119 pounds: Caleb Huff, Sunlake, senior

129 pounds: Victor Velez, Sunlake, senior

139 pounds: Connor O’ Malley, Cypress Creek, senior

154 pounds: Wesley Colas, Sunlake, senior

169 pounds: Kevin Sacco, Land O’ Lakes, senior

183 pounds: Ja’varrius Wilson, Zephyrhills, junior

199 pounds: Samuel Bergeron, Zephyrhills, senior

219 pounds: Caleb Keeling, Zephyrhills, senior

238 pounds: Cameron Helms, Zephyrhills, senior

Heavyweight/Unlimited: Ethan Vest, Zephyrhills, senior

Second Team All-Conference
119 pounds: Garrett Ellison, Zephyrhills, senior

129 pounds: Alex Alvarez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

139 pounds: Jerimiah Wolfe, Sunlake, senior

154 pounds: Alex Hall, Sunlake, senior

169 pounds: Andreas Portillo, Sunlake, sophomore

183 pounds: Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior

199 pounds: Kris Chandler, Wesley Chapel, senior

219 pounds: Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, junior

238 pounds: Corbin Doers, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Heavyweight/Unlimited: Kasean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Spring sports (Girls)

The Pasco High girls tennis team won conference and district titles this season, and reached the Class 3A-2 regional finals. (Courtesy of Pasco High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Girls Tennis
Team Champion: Pasco
Coach of the Year: Don Charlick
Player of the Year: Courtney Piltaver, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
Sitara Sriram, Pasco, junior

Courtney Piltaver, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Phoebe Teo, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Hope Johnson, Zephyrhills, senior

Alex Barath, Pasco, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
Paige Johnson, Zephyrhills, senior

Regina Lugo, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Mariel Camino, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Taylor Moore, Pasco, junior

Natalia Rivera, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

East All-Conference Girls Track & Field
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Brett Hodros, Sunlake
Track Athlete of the Year: Liina Winborn, Sunlake
Field Athlete of the Year: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Sunlake) Shannon Gordy, sophomore; Ashley Spires, sophomore; Emma Burleson, freshman; Justine Ruhlman, senior

100-meter hurdles: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

100-meter dash: Delcina Gillespie, Cypress Creek, junior

1600-meter run: Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior

4×100 relay: (Sunlake) Nia Johnson, junior; Jaymonda Calmes, senior; Gianna Levy, junior; Hannah Kilmer, junior

400-meter dash: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

300-meter hurdles: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

800-meter run: Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior

200-meter dash: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

3200-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, senior

4×400 relay: (Land O’ Lakes) Ashley Doers, junior; Lauren Bates, junior; Abigail Perez, junior; Lizzie Epps, freshman

Shot Put: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake, senior

Pole Vault: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, junior

High Jump: Ondrasha Joel, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Long Jump: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

Triple Jump: Jayda Forester, Sunlake, junior

Discus: Lauryn Beacham, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
4×800 relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) Kate Moore, junior; Guadalupe Guerra, sophomore; Madelynn Abrahamasen, senior; Mya Hill, sophomore

100-meter hurdles: Kat Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

100-meter dash: Zharia Wilson, Wesley Chapel, junior

1600-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, junior

4×100 relay: (Cypress Creek) Shaniqua Hicks, senior; Alyssa Pollicita, freshman; Ashleigh Lacey, sophomore; Delcina Gillespie, junior

400-meter dash: Lauren Bates, Land O’ Lakes, junior

300-meter hurdles: Hannah Kilmer, Sunlake, junior

800-meter run: Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, sophomore

200-meter dash: Nia Johnson, Sunlake, junior

3200-meter run: Estafania Acosta, Land O’ Lakes, senior

4×400 relay: (Wiregrass Ranch) Emily Beazley, senior; Dahlia Williams, freshman; Mya Hill, sophomore; Madelynn Abrahamasen, senior

Shot Put: Antoinette Farmer, Sunlake, junior

Pole Vault: Micala Jones, Sunlake, senior

High Jump: Emiliana Sorrell, Sunlake, junior

Long Jump: Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Triple Jump: Allison Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Discus: Antoinette Farmer, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Journee Byrd, Pasco, senior
Jaydean Ireland, Zephyrhills, junior

The Sunlake High softball team won its first Sunshine Athletic Conference East title in program history this season. They went on to reach the Class 7A regional finals, ending the season with a 24-3 mark. (Courtesy of Sunlake High Athletics)

East All-Conference Softball
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Nelson Garcia, Sunlake
Player of the Year: Jenna Lord, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Callie Turner, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Catcher: Neely Peterson, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: Jenna Lord, Sunlake, sophomore

Infielder: Miranda Perez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Infielder: Jasmine Jackson, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: April Lorton, Zephyrhills, senior

Outfielder: Kendra Falby, Sunlake, sophomore

Outfielder: Paige Maseda, Sunlake, senior

Outfielder: Shelby Westbrook, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Utility/DH/DP: Alexis Duff, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Jordan Almasy, Wesley Chapel, junior

Catcher: Jolene Bodner, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Infielder: Ashley Nickisher, Cypress Creek, senior

Infielder: Nehanda Lewis, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

Infielder: Logan Coward, Wesley Chapel, senior

Infielder: Ashley Garrison, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Outfielder: Miranda Schwartz, Cypress Creek, freshman

Outfielder: Emma Coon, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Outfielder: Brooke Stanley, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Utility/DH/DP: Mackenzie Petty, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Alyssa Cordoba, Sunlake, junior

Mikayla Hoschak, Sunlake, sophomore

Haylee Fernandez, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Ally Fraley, Wesley Chapel, junior

Madelyn Golka, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Anna Margetis, Cypress Creek, junior

Avery Lee, Cypress Creek, senior

Ashtin Jordan, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Kelsey Kadlub, Pasco, sophomore

De’onna Brown, Pasco, sophomore

Kyleigh Smith, Zephyrhills, junior

Hayley Myers, Zephyrhills, sophomore

All-Conference Girls Lacrosse
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Craig Havemann
Offensive Player of the Year: Charlotte Vari, Mitchell
Defensive Player of the Year: Sydney Maziarz, Cypress Creek

First Team All-Conference
Charlotte Vari, Mitchell, junior

Morgan Gregory, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Jenna Kiley, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Dinah Hardin, Wesley Chapel, senior

Addison Metcalf, Cypress Creek, junior

Madison Gregory, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Patricia Batchelor, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Grace Young, Mitchell, sophomore

Jordan Alvis, Cypress Creek, senior

Lauren Williams, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Chadee Smith, Mitchell, sophomore

Sydney Maziarz, Cypress Creek, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Emily Huntzinger, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Emily Rushing, Mitchell, junior

Kyleigh Lashuk, Mitchell, freshman

Peggy D’Alessandro, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Annabel Murk, Cypress Creek, junior

Amanda Erenberg-Diaz, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Mallori Hotaling, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Jenny Endres, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kamryn Smart, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Lily Jacey, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Brianna Seagers, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Alexa Dusch, Mitchell, sophomore

Published June 05, 2019

All-Pasco County winter awards announced

March 20, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2018-2019 winter sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

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

This is a listing of the recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

The Land O’ Lakes varsity boys basketball team enjoyed a banner season that included a district title and a 27-3 record. (File)

Winter Sports (Boys)
SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Basketball

Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes

Coach of the Year: Dave Puhalski, Land O’ Lakes

Player of the Year: Chase Farmer, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
Chase Farmer, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Isaiah Ramsey, Wesley Chapel, junior

Elijah Howell, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Mekhi Perry, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Jordan Golden, Sunlake, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Jamaal Wright, Sunlake, senior

Dontae Marchman, Zephyrhills, junior

Ethan Jones, Wesley Chapel, junior

Logan Ghoumari, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Jerry Peace, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Honorable Mention
Matthew Webster, Pasco, freshman

Cedric McBride, Cypress Creek, senior

The Wiregrass Ranch High and Pasco High varsity boys soccer teams were named co-team champions of the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s East division. The Bulls went 17-3-4 and the Pirates went 20-1-3. For Wiregrass, it marks their sixth-straight conference crown. They also haven’t lost a game (not including ties) to a Pasco County squad since the 2013-2014 season. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys’ Soccer
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch & Pasco

Coach of the Year: Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch

Offensive Player of the Year: Jason Nicolette, Pasco

Defensive Player of the Year: Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch

First Team All-Conference
Jason Nicolette, Pasco, senior

Malcolm Lewis, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Jaxon Landry, Sunlake, junior

Justin Amis, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Javier Todd, Sunlake, senior

Adrian Maldonado, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

(Courtesy of Pasco High School Athletics)

Jake Bierhorst, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Jake Rodriguez, Sunlake, junior

Landon Surratt, Pasco, sophomore

Ben McQuay, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Alan Castro, Wesley Chapel, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Logan Grace, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Omar Rios, Pasco, senior

Lincoln Morgan, Sunlake, senior

Sebastian Victoria, Sunlake, sophomore

Alex Montes, Pasco, senior

Collin Corrao, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Adam Mihalek, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Camilo Torres, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Nathan Oparka, Sunlake, senior

Carlos Morales, Zephyrhills, junior

Jared Jimenez, Pasco, junior

Honorable Mention
Marco Svolinsky, Cypress Creek, junior

The Sunlake boys wrestling team was named team champion of the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s East division, for the second year in a row. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Boys’ Wrestling
Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Sergio Matos

Wrestler of the year: Timothy Johnson, Pasco

106-pound: Nate Ames, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

113-pound: Orion Magoon, Sunlake, freshman

120-pound: Niko Caropreso, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

126-pound: Darion Skelly, Pasco, junior

132-pound: Travis Knowlton, Pasco, junior

138-pound: Tyson Gillott, Wesley Chapel, junior

145-pound: Jack Evans, Pasco, sophomore

152-pound: Scott Kren, Land O’ Lakes, senior

160-pound: Mathew Paduani, Sunlake, senior

170-pound: Mark Kieper, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

182-pound: Zach Spicer, Sunlake, junior

195-pound: Timothy Johnson, Pasco, senior

220-pound: Cayman Wiseman, Sunlake, junior

285-pound: Trent Gilbert, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

Second Team All-Conference
106-pound: Zac Demello, Zephyrhills, sophomore

113-pound: Kyle Eldridge, Land O’ Lakes, junior

120-pound: Krystian Maldonado, Sunlake, senior

126-pound: Jaiden Martinez, Zephyrhills, freshman

132-pound: Tristan Cowley, Zephyrhills, senior

138-pound: Cade Menozi, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

145-pound: Samuel Gilley, Sunlake, junior

152-pound: Kevin Johnston, Pasco, junior

160-pound: Issam Hamad, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

170-pound: Alexander Perusek, Sunlake, junior

182-pound: Benjamin Tomas, Wesley Chapel, senior

195-pound: Angel Vasquez, Land O’ Lakes, senior

220-pound: Andrew Martin, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

285-pound: Bradley Jasper, Sunlake, senior

Honorable Mention
Sam Payne, Cypress Creek, freshman

Connor O’ Malley, Cypress Creek, senior

The Wesley Chapel varsity girls basketball team captured its first conference title in 11 years and first district title in 10 years, on its way to a 22-3 mark. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School Athletics)

Winter Sports (Girls)
East All-Conference Girls’ Basketball
Team Champion: Wesley Chapel

Coach of the Year: Peter Livingston, Wesley Chapel

Player of the Year: Kayla Grant, Wesley Chapel

First Team All-Conference
Kayla Grant, Wesley Chapel, junior

Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Genesis Gonzalez, Sunlake, senior

Trinity Blanc, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Ariana Heppenstall, Wesley Chapel, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Mia Nicholson, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Emilia Cameron, Pasco, senior

Madison Gant, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Taija McCullough, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Emari Lewis, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Honorable Mention
Erin Whitely, Cypress Creek

After going 3-13 in its inaugural campaign in 2018, the Cypress Creek Middle High varsity girls soccer team enjoyed a remarkable turnaround this season, winning a conference championship and finishing with an 11-4 record. (File)

East All-Conference Girls’ Soccer
Team Champion: Cypress Creek

Offensive Player of the Year: Heather Sefton, Wesley Chapel

Defensive Player of the Year: Katelyn Leavines, Cypress Creek

First Team All-Conference
Heather Sefton, Wesley Chapel, senior

Avery Damjanovic, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Gaby Cardenas, Wesley Chapel, junior

Taylor Denney, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Teresa Rodriguez, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

Ysa Novak, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Katelyn Leavines, Cypress Creek, senior

Courtney Eckel, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Kaci Landry, Sunlake, senior

Ashley Doers, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Mackenzie Spurling, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Jeanine Sullivan, Sunlake, senior

Raegan Bourne, Cypress Creek, junior

Sophia Mitchell, Cypress Creek, junior

Kaylei Koschman, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Kat Llanos, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Bryanna Joseph, Sunlake, junior

Emily Esquinaldo, Wesley Chapel, senior

Sydney Bauer, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Abigail Murphy, Cypress Creek, junior

Maddy Golka, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Madison Holcombe, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Hope Johnson, Zephyrhills, senior

Kamryn Cummings, Pasco, senior

The Wiregrass Ranch High varsity girls competitive cheerleading team were tops among eastside Pasco County schools at the annual ‘Best of Pasco’ tournament. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics)

East All-Conference Girls’ Competitive Cheerleading
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch

Coach of the Year: Dawn Wetherby, Pasco

Cheerleader of the Year: Reagan Steele, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
Rachel Trapeni, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Molly Doyle, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Alexandra Cristafaro, Sunlake, senior

Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, junior

Emelina Brown, Sunlake, freshman

Reagan Steele, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Abigail Runkel, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Kimberly Benson, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Gabrielle Flannery, Pasco, senior

Megan Partain, Pasco, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Tara Powers, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Cara Alvarez, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kaytie Odom, Pasco, senior

Mallory McCann, Pasco, senior

Kristal Prado Zapata, Wesley Chapel, junior

Sydney Moye, Wesley Chapel, senior

Lyla Lewczyk, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Haley Cogan, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Camryn Steele, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Emma Runkel, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

The Sunlake High varsity girls weightlifting team captured its first state championship, in the FHSAA Class 2A girls weightlifting state finals. The feat marks the second state title by a team sport in the school’s history. (File)

East All-Conference Girls’ Weightlifting
Coach of the Year: Denise Garcia

Athlete of the Year: Veronica Salazar, Land O’ Lakes

First Team All-Conference
101-pound: Gabriella Schwarz, Sunlake, freshman

110-pound: Prestine Carter, Pasco, senior

119-pound: Madison Guincho, Sunlake, sophomore

129-pound: Loah Castro, Sunlake, senior

139-pound: Gianna Levy, Sunlake, junior

154-pound: Juliette Pacheco, Sunlake, junior

169-pound: Veronica Salazar, Land O’ Lakes, senior

183-pound: Alyssa Kremer, Land O’ Lakes, junior

199-pound: Sydney Murski, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Unlimited: Abby Shaffer, Zephyrhills, senior

Second Team All-Conference
101-pound: Savannah Soriano, Land O’ Lakes, junior

110-pound: Christina Graziano, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

119-pound: Alexandro Cristofaro, Sunlake, senior

129-pound: Gianina Rios, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

139-pound: Sarah Davis, Zephyrhills, junior

154-pound: Kayla Robbins, Zephyrhills, junior

169-pound: Brianna Caban, Sunlake, junior

183-pound: Abigail Schmook, Sunlake, junior

199-pound: Cynthia Wilkes, Zephyrhills, senior

Unlimited: Sabrina Diaz, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Dinah Hardin, Wesley Chapel, senior

Amanda Reyes, Cypress Creek, senior

Published March 20, 2019

Local teen spreads anti-human trafficking awareness

February 13, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

Walk through any public middle or high school in Pasco County, and you’re bound to come across impactful posters bringing awareness to the issue of human trafficking.

They’re pretty hard to miss.

Displayed in bright pink and green colors, with large fonts in English and Spanish versions, the posters explain that human trafficking is a crime where someone is forced to work or engage in a commercial sex act against their will. They warn that anyone, especially young people, can be a victim, and that it’s happening in Florida.

These posters, which provide awareness about human sex trafficking, have been placed throughout Pasco County middle and high schools. They were created by Priceless Youth Movement, an anti-human trafficking club at Land O’ Lakes High School. (Courtesy of Makayla Hildebrand)

The posters lists warning signs that someone, particularly a friend or another student, may be involved in human trafficking. They may be a victim if she or he:

  • Often runs away and skips school
  • Has bruises, scars, brands or untreated injuries
  • Is distant from family/friends
  • Has a controlling older boyfriend/girlfriend
  • Suddenly has expensive possessions

The posters informs students on ways to help. They can:

  • Be aware and learn to recognize the signs
  • Immediately report suspected trafficking to your school’s Corporal/SRO(School Resource Officer)
  • Encourage anyone you suspect is being trafficked to talk to a school social worker
  • Provide support; remind your friend that help is available and they are not alone

Contact information for the National Human Trafficking Hotline is listed, too.

The posters were placed in schools this year.

They’re the brainchild of the Priceless Youth Movement, an anti-human trafficking club at Land O’ Lakes High School.

The club also collaborated on the project with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking and the Pasco County School District.

The club was founded by Makayla Hildebrand, now an 18-year-old freshman at the University of South Florida, studying political science and criminology.

She created the club her senior year of high school, after being moved by the 2016 film, “Priceless,” a drama about human trafficking based on true events.

“I was pretty shocked that I hadn’t known (human trafficking) was something going on,” Hildebrand said. “Before that, I didn’t even know it existed.

“I didn’t know there was something going on this big. That’s when I started looking into it more,” she said.

She figured a poster campaign would be a good way to spread awareness to youth in schools.

Hildebrand and others gathered input from students and youth from the Runaway Alternatives Project (RAP) House in New Port Richey, on designs to best get the messages across.

Something big, bold, and vibrant was suggested.

Makayla Hildebrand founded Priceless Youth Movement her senior year at Land O’ Lakes High School. Now in college, Hildebrand is an active volunteer with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking, serving as a youth-friendly advocate.

“The main idea behind them, is that we want kids to look at these,” Hildebrand said. “I’m getting feedback that kids are actually noticing them and they know that they’re there, and not just something else that’s hanging on their school wall.”

The posters have since reached recreation centers and courthouses in Pasco.

Many other local organizations have also requested posters, Hildebrand said.

“We’ve had a lot of people ask us for them,” Hildebrand said. “They’re getting around, which we’re really happy about.”

Besides the poster initiative, Hildebrand’s club — which had over a dozen members — also participated in a handful of fundraisers.

They assisted with a supplies drive for Redefining Refuge, a Tampa Bay organization that helps young trafficking victims.

They also partnered with the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking, selling T-shirts to raise money for the organization’s safe home for trafficked boys.

And, although Hildebrand has since moved on to college, she remains an active volunteer with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking.

There, she serves as a youth-friendly voice to what can be sensitive subject matter, human sex trafficking.

“I just want to encourage more kids to get involved and do something about it, that they’re not only priceless, but they’re capable and able to take a stand,” she said.

Human trafficking is a multibillion dollar industry that enslaves approximately 25 million people around the world, according to the Polaris Project, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that works to combat and prevent modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

The United States leads all other countries in the demand for trafficked victims.

Florida ranks No. 3 in the volume of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Published February 13, 2019

Exciting New Year At Asturia

January 23, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

There is much to look forward to this New Year at Asturia, the master-planned community in Odessa that is one of the most desired neighborhoods along the popular State Road 54 corridor in central Pasco County.

After almost three years of development, Asturia is now in its third phase, having completed 300 homes and releasing another 100 lots to its builders. Hines, the developer behind Asturia, is looking forward to an exciting spring with several new model homes under way by its builders.

Ryan Homes is celebrating the grand opening of Asturia’s first townhomes on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. Visitors will enjoy the festivities as they tour two beautifully decorated model homes. Both floor plans offer 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2-car rear garages, and unique courtyards between the home and garage. Square footage is 1,580 in the Chopin model, and 1,740 square feet in the Haydn. Prices begin in the low $220s.

“We are very excited to be offering townhomes in Asturia,” said Creighton Call, project director for Hines at Asturia. “Many families are looking for the convenience, affordability and low-maintenance that comes with the townhome lifestyle. We look forward to welcoming first-time homebuyers coming out of apartments, and more families wanting to downsize their living space.”

Upon completion, Ryan Homes will have 105 townhomes in Asturia, all just a short walk to the community’s expansive Amenity Center. For families wanting to move soon, five quick move-in townhomes will be available.

Asturia’s traditional homebuilders are award-winning Ashton Woods, David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes. Builders are offering homesites nestled near the community’s nature preserves, and will be opening new model homes this spring in Phase III.

“We’re seeing a lot of pent-up demand for our traditional homes in Phase III, because of the outstanding reputation of our builders, and because some of the deepest and most beautiful conservation lots available are located in Phase III,” said Call.

David Weekley Homes, which has been building in Asturia since the community opened in 2016, has seven quick move-in homes available in a variety of one- and two-story floor plans and homesites. Prices begin in the low $300s.

ICI Homes is Asturia’s other premium builder, and is known for its open floor plans and Florida-lifestyle features, such as summer kitchen patios, open balconies, lots of windows and the ability to customize any floor plan. The builder has four move-in ready homes available, with prices beginning in the high $300s.

Families with children often choose Asturia for the outstanding public schools its children are zoned to attend — Odessa Elementary, Seven Springs Middle and J.W. Mitchell High. All are top-ranked by the Pasco County School District.

Another allure is Asturia’s unique amenity package, which includes a trail network, recreational parks and contemporary-style clubhouse, with a resort-style pool and state-of-the art fitness center. Neighborhood parks boast a Kompan play structure, a GaGa Ball court, and open event lawns to foster imaginative play and healthy, family fun.

Asturia’s system of picturesque walking trails and pocket parks feature bridges over sensitive land areas and trails that weave throughout the natural environment, resulting in one of Tampa Bay’s most sustainable, eco-friendly communities.

The community is just five minutes from the Suncoast Parkway, with close proximity to U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and I-75. It encompasses 500 acres of the former Behnke Ranch, which under Hines’ vision and management, has become an award-winning blend of shopping, office space, luxury apartments, single-family homes and townhomes.

Published January 23, 2019

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

January 16, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2018-2019 fall sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West division.

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

Here is a listing of the recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

The Sunlake boys and girls cross-country teams each won the Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference East meets. Both squads later qualified for the FHSAA 3A state meet, where the boys finished fourth and girls tenth, respectively. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Fall Sports (Boys)
East All-Conference Boys’ Cross Country

Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake

Runner of the Year: Edward Scheid, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Edward Scheid, Sunlake, junior

Devin Pollay, Wesley Chapel, junior

Sebastian Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Joseph Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, junior

Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, senior

Josiah Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Second Team All-Conference
Brandon Castillo, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Drew Knobl, Sunlake, junior

Colby Robbins, Sunlake, freshman

Felix Nieves, Sunlake, junior

Cade Whitfield, Sunlake, sophomore

Alex Medina, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Adam Hahn, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Jose Valeriano, Pasco, senior

Mason Bragg, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Samuel Flook, Cypress Creek, senior

The Zephyrhills boys golf team won the Pasco County Boys High School Golf Conference championship. They also joined Sunlake as the only boys golf teams from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to quality for the FHSAA state meet. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Golf
Team Champion: Zephyrhills

Coach of the Year: Shaun Van Patten, Zephyrhills

Golfer of the Year: Tristan McCool, Zephyrhills

First Team All-Conference
Tristan McCool, Zephyrhills, senior

Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills, junior

Fab Laude, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Jarrod Smith, Cypress Creek, junior

TJ Floberg, Pasco, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
Cole Darbyshire, Pasco, senior

Dylan Brooks, Wesley Chapel, junior

Christian Nieves, Pasco, senior

Preston Rollinson, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Trevor Myers, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Jordan Sarhaddi, Sunlake, senior

Max Barile, Sunlake, sophomore

The Land O’ Lakes boys swimming and diving team experienced one of its best seasons ever, with a third-place finish at the FHSAA state meet, tops among all local schools. Shown here is its relay team from left: Zuri Ramsey, Patryk Pilwoski, Ravidu Idippili, Jack Kaatze, along with coach Brian Vaile, which won state titles in the 200-yard free and 400-yard free relay events. (Courtesy of Brian Vaile)

SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes

Coach of the Year: Brian Vaile, Land O’ Lakes

Swimmer of the Year: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes

Diver of the Year: Rick Pritchard, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake)—Jay Jay Fonnotto, junior; Brendon Thai, senior; Colin Wilkins, junior; Dominic Ortanez, junior

200 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, sophomore

200 Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, junior

50 Freestyle: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Butterfly: Patrick Frain, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

100 Freestyle: Zuri Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

500 Freestyle: Clyde Crouse, Cypress Creek, sophomore

200 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Patryk Pilkowski, senior; Ravidu Idippili, junior; Jack Kaatze, junior; Zuri Ramsey, sophomore

100 Backstroke: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Breaststroke: Griffin Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Patryk Pilkowski, senior; Ravidu Idippili, junior; Jack Kaatze, junior; Zuri Ramsey, sophomore

Diver: Rick Pritchard, Sunlake, senior

Second Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)—Parker Munari, freshman; Douglas Lankton, junior; Noah Porter, freshman; Matthew Gomez, sophomore

200 Freestyle: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

200 Individual Medley: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

50 Freestyle: Charles Fields, Wesley Chapel, junior

100 Butterfly: Parker Munari, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

100 Freestyle: Matthew Gomez, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)—Danny Amaya, junior; Charles Fields, junior; Dewey Slay, senior; Alex Hayden, junior

100 Backstroke: Parker Munari, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

100 Breaststroke: Danny Amaya, Wesley Chapel, junior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)—Dewey Slay, senior; Alex Hayden, junior; Dominic Slay, sophomore; Izek Thomas, sophomore

Diver: Nicky Vreeland, Cypress Creek, freshman

Honorable Mention
Quentin Carrero, Pasco, sophomore

Peyton Lebron, Zephyrhills, senior

Fall Sports (Girls)
SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Cross Country
Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Randall Reeves, Sunlake

Runner of the Year: Liina Winborn, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Liina Winborn, Sunlake, junior

Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, sophomore

Ashley Spires, Sunlake, sophomore

Justine Ruleman, Sunlake, senior

Emma Burleson, Sunlake, freshman

Guadalupe Guerra, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
Destiny Saltzman, Sunlake, junior

Madison Poe, Zephyrhills, freshman

Emily Flaherty, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Madelyn Abrahamson, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kate Moore, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Agnes Hernandez, Pasco, sophomore

Avery Lillibridge, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

The Wiregrass Ranch girls golf team won the Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference championship meet, for the third consecutive year. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Golf
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch

Coach of the Year: Jerry Scott, Sunlake

Golfer of the Year: Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch

 First Team All-Conference
Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Emillie Alderman, Zephyrhills, senior

Sarah Robison, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Taylor Zachary, Sunlake, freshman

Calissa Kwiat, Cypress Creek, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Hannah Sullivan, Zephyrhills, senior

Sofia Clark, Sunlake, junior

Cydnee Jonas, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Helena Potter, Sunlake, freshman

Honorable Mention
Hannah Galbraith, Pasco, senior

Karlye Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

The Sunlake girls swimming and diving team won its first-ever Pasco County Sunshine Athletic Conference championship meet in 2018. They followed that up with a sixth place finish at the FHSAA 3A state meet. (File)

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Swimming & Diving
Team Champion: Sunlake

Swimmer of the Year: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake

Diver of the Year: Isa Monagas, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake)—Elise Ballash, senior; Chloe Grimme, junior; Amber Ewald, freshman; Hanna Barton, Sunlake

200 Freestyle: Taylor Ward, Land O’ Lakes, senior

200 Individual Medley: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, junior

50 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, junior

100 Butterfly: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, senior

100 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, junior

500 Freestyle: Taylor Ward, Land O’ Lakes, senior

200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)—Tori Eurell, junior; Alex Sprague, sophomore; Hannah Barton, senior; Chloe Grimme, junior

100 Backstroke: Amber Ewald, Sunlake, freshman

100 Breaststroke: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, senior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Taylor Ward, senior; Margarita Czupryn, senior; Amaya Henry, junior; Romina McCloskey, senior

Diver: Isa Monagas, Sunlake, sophomore

Second Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Jessica Adcock, senior; Catherine Pinkos, freshman; Jennifer Zartman, junior; Apryl Paquette, sophomore

200 Freestyle: Apryl Paquette, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

200 Individual Medley: Maryam Khalil, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

500 Freestyle: Leah Fonnotto, Sunlake, freshman

200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)— Victoria Vail, freshman; Alexa Amaya, freshman; Annalyse Rogers, freshman; Jilian Choinski,

100 Backstroke: Jessica Adcock, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Breaststroke: Maryam Khalil, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)—Maryam Khalil, freshman; Delaney Smith, junior; Kyra Johnson, senior; Katie Wieckoweski, freshman

Diver: Tifani Farquhar, Wesley Chapel, junior

Honorable Mention
Mykenzy Neal, Zephyrhills, junior

Hannah Davidson, Pasco, junior

Rylie Howard, Cypress Creek, freshman

SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Volleyball

The Sunlake girls volleyball team went 24-4 and reached the Class 7A regional finals, under first-year head coach Brian Gonzales. It marked a significant turnaround from the prior season’s 5-10 mark. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Team Champion: Sunlake

Coach of the Year: Brian Gonzalez, Sunlake

Player of the Year: Kylie Ciani, Sunlake

First Team All-Conference
Jaizah Anderson, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Caroline Schoover, Sunlake, junior

Brette Heymann, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Abbigale Hindersman, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Rachel Michner, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Bianca Vieria, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second Team All-Conference
Jordan Danielson, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Chanel Rinck, Sunlake, senior

Kamea Nash, Sunlake, senior

Rebecca Wolff, Pasco, junior

Zoi Evans, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Shayna Heymann, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Honorable Mention
Taylor Moore, Pasco, junior

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Published January 16, 2019

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08/11/2022 – Food distribution

Farm Share, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff Charities, The Gentlemen’s Course, and the Pasco County NAACP will host a free food distribution on Aug. 11 starting at 9 a.m., at the Big Lots parking lot, 4840 Allen Road in Zephyrhills. Food will be handed out rain or shine, on a first-come, first-served drive-through basis, until the items run out. … [Read More...] about 08/11/2022 – Food distribution

08/11/2022 – Yarn for a Cause

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host Yarn for a Cause on Aug. 11 at 6:15 p.m., in the Meeting Room. This group creates projects such as blankets for nursing homes, and more. Participants can learn new techniques and show their own projects. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/11/2022 – Yarn for a Cause

08/12/2022 – Monuments tour

The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum will host a “Monuments By Moonlight Tour” at the Dade City Cemetery, 38161 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City, on Aug. 12 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Participants can learn about founding families, notable citizens, and the stories ‘in the stones.’ This tour is on grassy pathways and uneven surfaces; open-toed shoes are not recommended. Twilight time brings heat, bugs, and sometimes rain, so be prepared. Water will be provided. Guests should meet at the cemetery gate. Parking is available across the street. The tour will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Dade City Cemetery and the Dade City Heritage Museum. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at EventBrite.com. … [Read More...] about 08/12/2022 – Monuments tour

08/12/2022 – Smart Driver Course

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will offer the AARP Smart Driver Safety Course on Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for ages 50 and older. Space is limited. Registration is required. Call Bev Cogdill at 813-907-3908. … [Read More...] about 08/12/2022 – Smart Driver Course

08/13/2022 – Ask a Gardener

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will host “Ask a Master Gardener” on Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. and at 10 a.m. A master gardener will be on hand to answer questions. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 08/13/2022 – Ask a Gardener

08/13/2022 – Belly Dance Show

The American Belly Dance Studio will present “We Come to Belly Dance,” a gala belly dance show, on Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. This is a fun, family oriented show featuring a variety of belly dance styles and costumes. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at AmericanBellyDance.com, and at the door if available (limited seating). For information, email , or call 813-416-8333. … [Read More...] about 08/13/2022 – Belly Dance Show

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