Carrollwood Day School

Prep football regular season recap

November 7, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

With the 2018 prep football regular season coming to a close — and playoffs set to begin — here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Zephyrhills notches perfect campaign
The 2018 campaign will be one to remember for the Zephyrhills Bulldogs.

Zephyrhills High finished the regular season with an undefeated 10-0 mark. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

They finished 10-0 and captured their second straight Class 5A, District 8 title — becoming the only public school in Pasco County to finish the regular season undefeated, and, marking the first time the program has had a perfect regular season since 1995.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs closed the year with a 49-0 shutout of the Pasco Pirates — the largest margin of victory in the long-standing 9-Mile War rivalry game that dates back to 1941.

Of course, the Bulldogs recent success is no fluke.

The program has posted eight straight winning seasons and five playoff appearances under its last two coaches, Nick Carroll and Reggie Roberts. Carroll is now 28-5 through his first three seasons as head coach. That includes 19 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Now Zephyrhills hopes for a deeper run in the playoffs than last season, when they lost an emotional 52-49 home contest to Green Cove Springs Clay in the Class 5A regional semifinals. They host Crystal River (8-2) on Friday in the Class 5A regional quarterfinals.

Gaither finishes strong to reach playoffs
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Gaither Cowboys were on the outside looking in to the Class 7A playoffs. But, a remarkable 21-20 win over Tampa Bay Tech in the regular season finale — as part of a three-game winning streak — propelled them to a No. 6 seed in the Class 7A, Region 2 bracket.

The win gives Gaither (7-3) some momentum in notching its second straight playoff berth, something the Cowboys will need this Friday against Plant (9-1) — a team they haven’t beaten in 10 contests, including a 44-34 loss back on Sept. 21.

But, don’t totally discount the Cowboys, who feature a balanced offensive attack and a dangerous pass rush to hang with many teams.

Land O’ Lakes thrives under new head coach
While the Land O’ Lakes Gators narrowly missed the playoffs, it was undoubtedly a successful season for first-year head coach Chad Walker.

The Gators (7-3) notched its first winning season since 2013.

And, they finally upended crosstown rival Sunlake in the annual Butter Bowl game — winning for the first time in the series since 2009.

The big question is whether Land O’ Lakes can maintain the newfound success after losing a large senior class that includes a bevy of contributors on offense and defense. Working in the team’s favor, however, is the expected return of junior quarterback Ethan Forrester, who posted a 51.6 completion percentage for 1,252 passing yards and 12 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Local private schools are playoff-bound
It’s been a solid year for private schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, as Carrollwood Day School, Zephyrhills Christian, and Academy at the Lakes (eight-man) each qualified for the playoffs. Carrollwood Day (5-5) and Zephyrhills Christian (7-3) locked up No. 3 seeds in their respective Class 2A regions. Carrollwood Day is making its first playoff appearance since 2015, while Zephyrhills Christian is making its third straight postseason appearance.

Academy at the Lakes (6-0), meanwhile, with one regular season game remaining, has already secured the No. 1 seed in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) eight-man playoffs. The defending FCAPPs state champions, Academy at the Lakes, is on a 15-game winning streak.

Sunlake head football coach Bill Browning retires as one of Pasco County’s most accomplished coaches. (FIle)

Farewell to longtime Sunlake coach
After 29 years as a high school football head coach in the North Suncoast, Sunlake’s Bill Browning is hanging up his headset and putting away his playbook. The longtime coach made the announcement over the weekend after the Seahawks wrapped up its second straight 4-6 campaign.

Browning built the Seahawks program from scratch in 2007, turning it into one of Pasco County’s most dominant programs across the last decade, with a string of seven straight winning seasons. Browning now retires as the seventh-most winningest coach in Pasco County history (73). Prior to Sunlake, Browning coached a combined 17 years for Springstead and Hernando high schools, racking up a combined 92 wins— second all-time among Hernando County coaches.

Browning at Sunlake
2018: 4-6
2017: 4-6
2016: 7-3
2015: 8-3 (district runner-up)
2014: 9-3 (district champion)
2013: 9-2 (district runner-up)
2012: 8-2
2011: 10-2 (district runner-up)
2010: 9-1
2009: 4-6
2008: 1-9
2007: 0-10

Stat Stuffers
A look at some individual players who shined during the 2018 regular season

Doug Crawford, Zephyrhills, senior quarterback: Ranked among the region’s most efficient signal-callers, with a 72.3 completion percentage for 1,010 yards and 17 touchdowns (three interceptions).

Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, junior linebacker: Leads the state with 20 sacks, to go along with 77 total tackles and 30 tackles for loss.

Kyle Benedict, Carrollwood Day School, senior receiver: Extremely productive wideout tallied 42 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns. Has over 116 career receptions for over 2,000 yards in four years on varsity.

Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, senior tailback: Posted 2,180 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns. Also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second time with 1,252 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry.

Kavbion Marbra, Zephyrhills Christian, athlete: Seven interceptions is tied for fourth-most in the state.

Nyhohn Moody, Zephyrhills Christian, senior linebacker: Tackling machine ranks fifth in the state with 132 stops. Also has six tackles for loss and a sack.

Schools in The Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2018 regular season records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 5-5 overall, 2-2 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 4-6 overall, district 2-4

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 6-0 overall, 6-0 district (One regular season game remaining)

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 4-5, 4-1 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 3-7 overall, 1-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 7-3 overall, 2-2 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-8 overall, 0-4 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-6 overall, 1-3 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 5-5 overall, 4-2 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-3 overall, 4-2 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 10-0 overall, 6-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 7-3 overall, 1-0 district

FHSAA football playoff pairings for local schools
All kickoff times are set for Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Class 7A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 Gaither (7-3) at No. 3 Plant (9-1)

No. 8 Wiregrass Ranch (7-3) at No. 1 Lakeland (10-0)

Class 5A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 7 Crystal River (8-2) at No. 2 Zephyrhills (10-0)

Class 2A
Region 2 Quarterfinals

No. 6 St. Francis Catholic Gainesville (4-5) at No. 3 Zephyrhills Christian (7-3)

Region 3 Quarterfinals
No. 6 Southwest Florida Christian (2-8) at No. 3 Carrollwood Day School (5-5)

Published November 7, 2018

Prep football midseason review

September 26, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

With five weeks of high school football in the books, the midway point of the 2018 season has been reached.

Here’s a look at some of the storylines and highlights from schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

Boisterous Bulldogs
No Charles Harrison III? No problem. The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have maintained their winning ways, even without the prolific and record-setting signal-caller, who graduated last season and now plays for Division III Brevard College in North Carolina.

The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have successfully built off last season’s 10-2 campaign with a 4-0 start in 2018. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School)

The Bulldogs offense (29.3 points per game) isn’t quite as prolific as last season when Harrison III was under center (41 points per game), however, they’ve managed with a balanced attack through the air and ground.

Meanwhile, an extremely stingy defense (13 points allowed per game) has made life difficult for the opposition.

Zephyrhills could foreseeably run the table for the regular season, considering just one of its remaining foes has a winning record — Wesley Chapel High School, at 3-2 overall — and that’s a home game, where the Bulldogs are 13-2 since 2016.

Further, the Bulldogs arguably have the most talented squad in Pasco County, with bona fide Division I FBS talent in receiver/defensive back Ja’quan Sheppard and running back/defensive back Cartrell Strong, among other future college prospects.

Also noteworthy: Bulldogs third-year head coach Nick Carroll is off to one of the best coaching starts in county history, with a remarkable 23-5 record since taking over for former coach Reggie Roberts in 2016. That includes 13 straight regular season wins dating back to last season.

Galvanized Gators
The hiring of Chad Walker, a first-time high school head football coach, is thus far paying off for the Land O’ Lakes High Gators.

The Land O’ Lakes High Gators are off to a 3-1 start under first-year head coach Chad Walker. (File)

At 3-1, the Gators are off to their best start since 2013, when the program last had a winning season and finished 8-2.

Whatever happens the remainder of 2018, this season will go down in lore for Land O’ Lakes.

That’s because the Gators broke an eight-game losing streak in the annual Butter Bowl rivalry game against Sunlake High, with a convincing 34-25 home win on Sept. 14. The historic win also coincided with the renaming of the press box at John Benedetto Stadium to the Mike Connor Family Press Box, after the longtime athletics booster and former Voice of the Gators.

Besides a road game against Mitchell High on Oct. 26, the Gators have a manageable slate and very well could complete what’s been a long time coming: a winning season. It also doesn’t hurt that the Gators have one of the county’s top offensive playmakers in senior tailback Kyle Leivas, who’s already tallied 613 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, including two straight 200-yard rushing performances against, respectively, Cypress Creek Middle High (224 yards on 25 carries) and Sunlake (223 yards on 19 carries).

Cool, confident Coyotes
After going winless in its first season as a program, victories are finally coming to the Cypress Creek Middle High Coyotes and second-year head coach Mike Johnson.

Cypress Creek captured the program’s first-ever win on Sept. 7, defeating Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High 42-22 on the road. (Courtesy of Cypress Creek Middle High School)

The upstart program already has two wins on the year, against Bishop McLaughlin Catholic and Pasco high schools.

Also, unlike last season, the Coyotes actually have a senior class.

Among the 12 seniors, the Coyotes have received significant contributions from tailback/safety Tim Ford-Brown, receiver/linebacker/punter Quinton Spears and receiver/safety/defensive end Devin Santana, among others.

Meantime, twin brothers Jehlani Warren, a junior quarterback, and Jalen Warren, a junior receiver, have made the Coyotes a fun watch, as they’ve hooked up for a bevy of big plays and touchdowns this season.

Going forward, expectations should remain modest for a program stepping into the ever-growing competitive area.

Yet, don’t be shocked if the Coyotes pull out another win or two before the end of the 2018 season.

Slow start, strong finish?
While Land O’ Lakes High is experiencing its best start in years, crosstown rival Sunlake High is struggling with a 1-3 mark.

For the second straight year, Sunlake has opened with a 1-3 mark. (File)

Besides Land O’ Lakes, the Seahawks have faced stiff competition out of the gate, losing to Wiregrass Ranch High and to Zephyrhills High, in overtime.

The Seahawks did, however, open the season with a 25-0 road win over Wesley Chapel High — never an easy task.

The second half of the season shouldn’t be quite as daunting. However, it does include a string of three straight road games in October against Cypress Creek, Pasco and Brooksville Central high schools, respectively.

Interestingly, Sunlake also started off 1-3 last season, before rolling to a 4-6 finish — its first losing season since 2009.

Major milestone
Former Gaither High/Boca Ciega High and current Hillsborough High head coach Earl Garcia is one win away from tying former Chamberlain High coach Billy Turner as the all-time winningest coach in Tampa Bay history (254).

Garcia, who coached at Gaither from 1987 to 1991, has a career record of 253-103, including nine 10-win seasons.

Garcia was recently inducted into Gaither’s inaugural football Hall of Fame, joining Greg Callahan, Denny Haywood, Kenny Huebner, Terry Jordan, Chad Muilenberg, Cesar Paz, James Puckett and Lydell Ross.

Garcia at Gaither
1987 — Gaither (7-4)
1988 — Gaither (6-4)
1989 — Gaither (4-6)
1990 — Gaither (3-7)
1991 — Gaither (5-5)

Stat Stuffers
—Tony Bartalo, Gaither High, junior quarterback: Most efficient quarterback in the always tough District 8-7A, completing 72.4 percent of his throws for 627 yards and seven touchdowns.

Land O’ Lakes High senior tailback Kyle Leivas (File)

—Desmin Green, Pasco High, junior quarterback: One of the county’s most effective quarterbacks, completing 56 percent of his passes for 602 yards, and nine touchdowns and four interceptions; also has 227 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns

—Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes High, senior tailback: County’s second leading rusher with 613 yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries; in total has 977 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.

—Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek Middle High, junior receiver: County’s second leading receiver with 16 catches for 321 yards and five touchdowns.

Wiregrass Ranch High junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School)

—Logan Kilburn, Steinbrenner High, senior linebacker: Second in the state with 70 total tackles; also has four sacks and eight tackles for loss.

—Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch High, junior linebacker: Tied for state lead with 14 sacks; also has 44 total tackles and 21 tackles for loss.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their current 2018 records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 3-1 overall, 1-1 district

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 1-4 overall, district 0-2

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 1-1 district

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 1-4 overall, 0-2 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 2-0 overall, 2-0 district

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 2-1, 2-0 district

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 2-3 overall, 0-0 district

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 3-1 overall, 1-0 district

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 2-2 overall, 0-0 district

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 1-3 overall, 0-1 district

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 2-0 district

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-2 overall, 1-1 district

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 4-0 overall, 1-0 district

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 2-2 overall, 0-0 district

Published September 26, 2018

High school football kickoff week

August 22, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Jonesing for the return of high school football?

Here’s a look at all the Friday night matchups for teams in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. All Week 1 games are at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 24, unless otherwise noted.

Hillsborough County

St. Petersburg Catholic Barons at Carrollwood Day Patriots (7 p.m.) — Both teams come off losing seasons, but the Patriots feature a large senior class and one of the area’s top quarterbacks in senior Chris Butash.

Freedom Patriots at Steinbrenner Warriors — The Warriors have reigned supreme in this matchup the last three years (and hold the series lead 4-1). However, the Patriots will have arguably the best player on the field in senior receiver/safety Jeremiah Ashe, who boasts over a dozen Division I FBS scholarship offers.

Gaither Cowboys at Chamberlain Chiefs — The Cowboys’ strong running attack (262.5 yards per game in 2017) will be imperative to keep the Chiefs offense and senior quarterback Tyler Riddell off the field; Riddell, a University of Akron commit, threw for 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

Pasco County

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic Hurricanes at Shorecrest Prep Chargers (7 p.m.) — Last time these teams met was in 2013, where the Hurricanes were shut out 40-0. The Hurricanes should have better luck this time around, with Shorecrest Prep coming off a 1-6 campaign.

Cypress Creek Coyotes at Gulf Buccaneers — The Coyotes are seeking its first official win in program history after it was forced to forfeit its 12-0 victory against Gulf last season.

Coming off a 10-2 mark, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs and head coach Nick Carroll, right, figure to again be one of Pasco County’s top teams this fall. They play Wiregrass Ranch on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (File)

Land O’ Lakes Gators at Citrus Hurricanes — Gators first-year head coach Chad Walker faces a relatively manageable test against a Hurricanes squad that has just six seniors and is without several key contributors from last season.

Pasco Pirates at Hudson Cobras — Pasco won last year’s matchup 22-10 and holds the overall series lead, 6-2. A victory here would be a good start for the Pirates, who are seeking their first winning season since 2014.

Sunlake Seahawks at Wesley Chapel Wildcats — Wesley Chapel handily beat Sunlake last year (42-24). Doing so again likely won’t be as easy, as the Wildcats have lost some of the county’s top offensive and defensive players from 2017, including Isaiah Bolden, Dexter Leverett, Malik Melvin and Austin Wittish.

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls at Zephyrhills Bulldogs — Two of Pasco County’s top squads square off in what should be an exciting, back-and-forth affair. Adding fuel to the fire: Former Zephyrhills head coach Reggie Roberts is now an assistant at Wiregrass Ranch.

Later Week 1 games:

North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) at Zephyrhills Christian Warriors (Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.) — A good barometer for both teams coming off eight-win seasons and appearances in the FHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Donahue Catholic Shamrocks (Ave Maria) at Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (Sept. 7, 7 p.m.) — The defending FCAPPS eight-man state champions shouldn’t have much trouble against the visiting Shamrocks; the Wildcats won last year’s contest 36-0.

Compiled by Kevin Weiss

Published August 22, 2018

Prep football primer

August 15, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

With high school football practices in full swing and games beginning Aug. 24, here’s a look at teams, players and games to watch as the 2018 season unfolds, for programs in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Teams to watch:

Academy at the Lakes will aim to defend its FCAPPS eight-man state title. (File)

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats
The defending Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ (FCAPPs) eight-man champions — who also went 11-1 — appear to be in line for another solid campaign, even with the exodus of a handful of top players such as running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez, receiver Isaiah Smith and defensive back Jordan Oladokun, who transferred to Gaither High School for his sophomore season.

The talent cupboard isn’t completely bare, with a roster that includes a combined 17 juniors and seniors. Along with FCAPPS Coach of the Year Shawn Brown, the Wildcats return a handful of All-Conference or All-State players in sophomore quarterback Jalen Brown, sophomore offensive lineman Andrew Kilfoyl and senior defensive lineman Dylan Price. Also expect significant contributions from senior tailback Jamaal Johnson (1,093 all-purpose yards, nine touchdowns) and senior tight end/defensive end Tioma Stepanets (221 yards, four touchdowns; 52 tackles, four sacks).

New Land O’ Lakes head coach Chad Walker looks to steer the Gators to its first winning season since 2013.

Land O’ Lakes High Gators
The Gators will look to secure its first winning season since 2013, under new head coach Chad Walker. The 34-year-old played professional football in Italy and Sweden, and spent several years as a college assistant, before delving into the high school coaching ranks. Walker inherits a sizable roster that includes 1,000-yard rusher Kyle Leivas and leading tackler Myron Bloom (76 tackles, five tackles for loss). Aside from those senior standouts, the Gators must find consistent quarterback play and additional offensive contributors.

The schedule doesn’t offer a ton of favors for the new Gators coaching staff. A tough district slate includes Mitchell and Springstead, along with other formidable opponents, such as Anclote, Hernando, and Lakeland Christian — each of which had winning seasons last year.

Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls
Wiregrass Ranch will have to move on from having one of the county’s most highly recruited football prospects in years — defensive back Jordan Miner, now at Penn State — plus a bevy of top contributors on offense such as 1,000-yard rusher Adrian Thomas, now at Division III Thiel College (Greenville, Pennsylvania).

The Bulls, however, should have enough reinforcements in place for a third straight winning season, after going 9-3 last year and 7-4 in 2016 under head coach Mark Kantor.

Incumbent quarterback Grant Sessums returns for his senior year after throwing for 1,483 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Other key returnees include senior receiver/defensive back Dorien Green, senior defensive lineman Kasean Ridgel, and junior linebacker Dylan Ridolph, who tallied 89 tackles, and led the team in sacks (15) and tackles for loss (23). Also expect contributions from several up-and-coming players who’ll move up from a junior varsity team that went 6-1 last season.

Coming off a 10-2 mark and District 8-5A crown, Zephyrhills High could be in store for another dominant season.

Zephyrhills High Bulldogs
Zephyrhills fans will have to get used to rooting for a new quarterback, following the graduation of Charles Harrison III — who became one of the county’s most prolific signal callers in his three years as a starter.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, whoever takes snaps certainly won’t lack throwing options, with arguably the region’s top receiving corps — seniors Ja’Quan Sheppard (35 catches, 797 yards, 13 touchdowns), Tre’ Pavis Mobley (41 receptions, 640 yards, 10 touchdowns) Cartrell Strong (25 receptions, 410 yards, four touchdowns) and Tyreese Wigfall (15 receptions, 286 yards, seven touchdowns). Another constant is third-year head coach Nick Carroll, who’s tactfully built off the sustained success of former coach Reggie Roberts, going 10-2 and 8-3 his first two seasons, respectfully. With a collection of Division I and college talent, don’t be surprised if the program secures its eighth straight winning season. Last year the Bulldogs outscored opponents by a margin of 562-209 and went undefeated in District 8-5A. That included several blowouts against the likes of Sunlake (36-7), Ridgewood (59-7), Fivay (70-0), Gulf (70-0), Hudson (63-0) and Pasco (43-13).

Zephyrhills Christian Academy’s Malik Jones (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
The Warriors have transitioned to 11-man football under head coach Mike Smith, going 8-3-1, 7-2 and 4-4 the past three years, respectively. Now coming off a playoff appearance in the Class 2A ranks, the team figures to have another big season, as 24 of its 27 players are juniors or seniors. Among that senior group, on offense, is starting quarterback Jacoby Braxton, leading receiver Kavbion Marbra, and Javion Hanner, who tallied over 1,000 all-purpose yards and led all skill players with 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, on defense, most contributors return to a unit that last season allowed fewer than nine points per game and racked up 51 sacks and 16 interceptions. Among the standouts are Marbra (five interceptions at cornerback) and defensive end/linebacker Jalen Spencer (21 sacks). The team’s second-leading tackler from last season, Eugene Davis (94 total tackles), also returns.

Five more players to watch:

Chris Butash, quarterback, Carrollwood Day School, senior
The skinny: Butash, who lives in Wesley Chapel and formerly attended Academy at the Lakes, is coming off a season where he threw for 2,088 yards and 18 touchdowns/15 interceptions, and rushed for 570 yards and six touchdowns. Verbal commit to Division I FCS Holy Cross (Worcester, Massachusetts).

Darrion Robinson, receiver, Pasco High School, junior
The skinny: Coming off a breakout season where he caught 25 balls for 577 yards and eight touchdowns. His 23.1 yards per reception ranked tops in Pasco County.

Malik Jones, offensive/defensive lineman, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, junior
The skinny: The 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman is an intimidating force on both sides of the trenches, particularly on defense posting 60 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and four sacks last season. A multisport athlete, Jones is also one of the state’s top heavyweight wrestlers, finishing third at the 2018 FHSAA Class 1A State Championship in March. Holds a scholarship offer from Division III Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio).

Freedom High’s Jeremiah Ashe (Courtesy of Freedom High School)

Jeremiah Ashe, receiver/safety, Freedom High School, senior
The skinny: Formidable two-way player that snagged six interceptions on defense, while posting 945 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns on offense. Claims over a dozen Division I FBS offers, including Cincinnati, South Florida and Rutgers universities.

Jeromy Reid, running back, Gaither High School, senior
The skinny: Rushed for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Tallied five 100-yard games, including a monstrous 267-yard, two touchdown performance against Brandon High early last season. Holds Division I FBS offers from Western Kentucky and South Florida universities.

Games to watch:

Wiregrass Ranch at Zephyrhills (Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m.) — Two of Pasco County’s top squads last year square off in the first week of the 2018 season.

Sunlake at Land O’ Lakes (Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m.) — The annual “Butter Bowl” rivalry has been one-sided of late — Sunlake has won eight straight (including one via forfeit in 2011) — but Land O’ Lakes figures to be more competitive with the matchup on its home turf and the Seahawks coming off an uncharacteristic losing season (4-6 in 2017).

Zephyrhills at Pasco (Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.) — The annual 9-Mile War may be more heated after Pasco head coach Tom McHugh this summer accused Zephyrhills’ coaches of recruiting improprieties, based on a July letter sent to Pasco County athletic director Matt Wicks. While the Pirates lead the all-time series 40-20, Zephyrhills has won the past three contests by a combined 138-29.

Zephyrhills Christian at Victory Christian (Lakeland) (Oct. 5, 7 p.m.) — The Warriors seek to avenge its 12-0 loss in the first round of last year’s FHSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Gaither at Wiregrass Ranch (Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.) — Matchup could decide the District 8-7A runner-up — as it has the past two years — assuming Plant High repeats as district champs.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area (and their 2017 records)

Hillsborough County:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): 2-7 overall, 1-2 district
Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): 3-6 overall, 2-4 district
Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): 7-4 overall, 5-1 district
Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): 2-7 overall, 1-5 district

Pasco County:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (eight-man Florida Christian Region 2): 11-1 overall, 7-0 district
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): 3-7 overall, 2-2 district
Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): 0-11 overall, 0-0 district
Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-5 overall, 1-3 district
Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-7 overall, 0-4 district
Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): 4-6 overall, 2-2 district
Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): 6-4 overall, 4-3 district
Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): 9-3 overall, 4-2 district
Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): 10-2 overall, 7-0 district
Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): 8-3 overall, 0-1 district

Published August 15, 2018

Bearss Landing Townhomes Opening This Summer

May 23, 2018 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

One of north Tampa’s most desirable locations on Bearss Avenue, located just west of North Boulevard, is the site of a new townhome community being built by Meritage Homes.

Opening this summer, Bearss Landing will be a community of 115 townhomes on the north side of Bearss Avenue, positioned in-between Buchanan Middle School and Carrollwood Day School.

“There is a huge demand for affordable new construction in north Tampa, and Bearss Landing will be perfect for families looking for a spacious home with quick access to USF, downtown Tampa, and all the shopping and dining in Carrollwood,” said Chris Ryan, division president of Meritage Homes for Tampa.

In addition to being just five minutes from Interstate 275, floor plans developed for Bearss Landing are uniquely designed for families and young adults buying their first home.

Six floor plans will be available, ranging from 1,756 to 2,378 square feet. Every plan has a covered patio, two-car garage, three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The first floor has a half bath, and two full baths are upstairs along with the master bedroom and two additional bedrooms. Some floor plans have a downstairs flex room that can be used as an office, dining room, playroom or library.

“It is very unusual for a townhome community to provide two-car garages for every home,” said Ryan. “But, our research shows that just about everyone buying a home wants a two-car garage, so we made sure that was a standard feature.”

Bearss Landing is planning to open two models homes, the Fremont and Burbank, in August. Prices are expected to begin in the high $200s.

“Energy efficiency is another feature that new homebuyers identify as important,” said Ryan. “Meritage seamlessly builds energy efficiency into every home, which means homeowner will save up to 50 percent on their utility bills.”

Meritage Homes, which has designed and built over 100,000 homes in its 32-year history, is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding and has received the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained-Excellence Award for the sixth consecutive year.

Bearss Landings also offers upscale amenities, including a gated, landscaped entrance, and community pool and cabanas. Amenities are under construction and will be ready for the community’s first homeowners.

The schools zoned for the community are Maniscalco Elementary, Buchanan Middle and Gaither High. For families looking for private schools, Carrollwood Day School is next door, and offers classes for children from preschool through high school.

About Bearss Landing
New construction
115 Townhomes
1,756 to 2,378 square feet
6 unique floor plans
Attached 2-car garages
3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths
5 minutes to I-275
10 minutes to Carrollwood
Gated, landscaped entrance
Community pool and cabanas
Models opening summer 2018

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Sales Center: (855) 679-9942

Published May 23, 2018

CDS baseball reaches first state final four, seeks title

May 23, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

It’s been a season of milestones for the Carrollwood Day School varsity baseball program.

First 20-win season. First district title. First regional win. First regional title. First final four.

And, they’re seeking yet another this week — a state championship.

The Patriots (24-3) will face Tallahassee North Florida Christian (24-3) in the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 3A state semifinal on May 23.

The winner will play for the Class 3A crown on Thursday against either Fort Myers Canterbury School (25-5) or Fort Pierce John Carroll Catholic High School (19-7), from the other state semifinal matchup.

The Carrollwood Day School Patriots (23-4) will play in its first-ever state semifinal on May 23 against Tallahassee North Florida Christian. If they win, they play for a Class 3A state title on May 24. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School Athletics)

All contests are played at Centurylink Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

Following a stellar regular season, the Patriots have cruised through postseason play, most recently beating Lakeland Christian 4-0 in the Class 3A regional final on May 15.

With an eight-day layoff between games, the team has maintained its regular practice schedule in preparation for its biggest tests of the season.

Despite extra time off, Patriots first-year head coach and longtime assistant Ken Akins said, “there’s no concern at all” about rust leading into the state semifinals.

“We had decent time in between the two regional games…so we’re used to it, but to be honest that doesn’t bother me one bit. We will continue to do what we do. We will continue to stay loose,” Akins said.

“The thing that we have really worked on, and I told them at the very beginning of the season, ‘I’m going to teach you kids how to play loose. When you get tight in this game, you fail, and if you can just stay loose, stay relaxed, everything’s going to go our way.’ And, it has to this point, which has been fantastic, so why change it now? We’re going to continue to do the absolute same things that we’ve done in the past.”

The mindset has proven true all season long for Carrollwood Day, winning 11 games by a margin of one or two runs.

The string of narrow victories is a credit to the team’s defense and pitching staff, which has combined 1.30 ERA and a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio.

Among the Patriots’ top pitchers is a trio of seniors who’ve been reliable all season — Gabriel Partridge (0.64 ERA, 11 wins), Andre Hevesy (1.06 ERA) and Frank Furey (1.96 ERA).

“We have always put pride in our pitching and our defense,” Akins said.

“This entire tournament we’ve played error-free baseball, so it’s what has got us in this position. You look back at the amount of won one-run games that we’ve had, and the key to that is the kids and the trust, and being relaxed and being able to throw strikes — and they have done it all season long.”

Another strong showing on the mound will be imperative against North Florida Christian, which has a .352 team batting average and 18 team home runs.

Its top three sluggers are hitting .450 or better — juniors J.D. Tease (.521 batting average, 37 RBIs) and Carson Neal (.452, five home runs, 33 RBIs) and senior Matthew Dickey (.464, three home runs, 30 RBIs).

The Patriots are ready for the challenge, Partridge, the team’s ace, said.

“We’re looking forward to it, not backing down, and we know it’s going to be a good game…,” Partridge said.

Besides pitching and defense, Carrollwood Day has benefitted from stellar hitting from the likes of Furey (.378, two home runs, 24 RBIs) and Hevesy (.308, six doubles, 16 RBIs), as well as senior Rodrigo Montenegro (.373, 31 runs) and junior Blake Hooker (.337, 23 RBIs).

Team speed (94 stolen bases) is another asset for Carrollwood Day.

However, runs may be hard to come by against an opposing group that sports a 2.34 team ERA and strikes out an average of 1.42 batters per inning.

“We have an idea of what we’re going to go up against, but the bottom line is they’re going to put nine guys on the field, we’re going to put nine guys on the field, and I trust my guys and believe in my guys so much that everything’s going to be left on the field, and hopefully we come out on top,” Akins said.

It’s been a steady progression to the Patriots’ best season in program history.

Last year the team went 17-10 and lost in the first round of the district tournament, under former head coach Nick Rodriguez.

Its next best campaign came in 2015, when the squad went 14-10.

The team mainly hovered around .500 in other seasons.

Partridge said the Patriots are “actually playing together” compared to last year —his first season with the team after transferring from Miami’s Immaculata-LaSalle.

Also a more experienced group, the Patriots have 16 upperclassmen (six seniors, 10 juniors).

“We’re more of a team,” the pitcher said. “We’re treating each other like family, and that’s good. It’s helping us. We play like we know we got each other’s backs and, if we make a mistake or do something wrong, we know that we’ll pick each other up for everything — and that’s the difference between this year and last year.”

And, as one of six seniors, Partridge is relishing every moment of the best season in program history.

“I’m glad to be a part of it. It’s awesome,” Partridge said. “You see how happy guys are, all around the dugout, all around the school, congratulating us and everything. It’s pretty cool to be a part of the first time the team (has reached the state final four).”

Published May 23, 2018

Solid year for local hoops

March 14, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Florida high school basketball has wrapped up, and while no teams from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area won a state title, several boys and girls squads nonetheless achieved impressive performances during the 2017-2018 season.

Here’s a look back at some of the teams and players who stood out:

Boys
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 4A)
Record: 24-4 overall, 8-1 district 4-4A

Four more points — that’s how much Carrollwood Day School needed to clinch a win to reach the Class 4A Final Four.

The Patriots lost to Oviedo Master’s Academy 71-68 in the region finals on Feb. 27.

Yet nothing should be taken away from first-year coach Teddy Owens, a former assistant at the University of Nebraska.

Owens tripled the Patriots’ win total from the prior year — the team went 8-12 during the 2016-2017 season — and steered the program to its first winning season since 2012.

A bevy of talent helped, too.

The Patriots had one of the Tampa Bay area’s most electrifying players in 6-foot-1 junior guard Malcolm Whitlow, who averaged a whopping 32 points, seven assists and nine rebounds per game, and set a school-record 47 points during a game against Durant High in January. The program also received major contributions from 6-foot-3 guard Edgar Ziegler (17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds) and 6-foot-8 senior center Owen Mixon (10.9 points, 10.5 rebounds).

Keystone Prep Knights (Class 2A)
Record: 20-10 overall, 10-3 district 4-2A

Keystone Prep boys basketball celebrated its first 20-win season and first district championship. The Odessa-based school was also just one win away from reaching the Class 2A state semifinals. (Courtesy of Keystone Prep High School)

It was a year of firsts for Keystone Prep.

The Odessa-based school celebrated its first 20-win season, first district tournament win, first district championship, first playoff win and first region final appearance — and was just one win away from the Class 2A state semifinals.

It was an utter turnaround from last season, when the Knights won just four games.

Keystone Prep was particularly dominant throughout district play, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 36 points.

The team was led by a trio of seniors in Myikel Wilson (19.6 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 steals), Ryan Sanders (14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 steals) and Jairen Embry (10.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals).

Despite losing a strong senior class, the Knights may to be in good shape next season should they return juniors James Pursley (14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks), Jalon Pittman (11.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks) and Mario Lovett (8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds).

It also helps that the program has a young, up-and-coming coach in Matt Grossenbach. An alumnus of Academy at the Lakes, Grossenbach was that school’s first player — male or female — to score more than 1,000 career points (1,189). He later served as an assistant coach at the Academy before taking the Keystone Prep gig.

Wharton High Wildcats (Class 8A)
Record: 23-6 overall, 11-3 district 8-8A)

Under longtime head coach Tommy Tonelli, Wharton High once again showed itself as one of Tampa Bay’s most consistent hoops programs, by surpassing the 20-win mark for the ninth straight season.

They did so in exciting fashion, too.

In addition to a nail-biting 51-50 victory over Bartow High in the Class 8A region quarterfinal, Wharton finally downed crosstown rival Plant High to capture its first district crown since 2014. The Wildcats lost to Plant twice earlier in the season before getting revenge a third time around.

The Wildcats next season will be without three players who are 6-foot-4 or taller in

team captains Ryan Anders and DJ Henderson, and Nate Barnes.

However, the team will return top player and Division I prospect Darin Green Jr., a 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard, who claims scholarship offers from a handful of mid-majors, including Cal State-Fullerton, Florida Gulf Coast and Rider universities.

Other notable boys teams:

Land O’ Lakes High Gators (18-8 overall, 4-2 district 8-7A)
Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls (17-9 overall, district 8-8A)
Wesley Chapel High Wildcats (16-11 overall, 10-6 district 8-6A)
Zephyrhills High Bulldogs (20-9 overall, 14-4 district 8-6A)

Other notable boys players:

Elijah Howell, junior, Wiregrass Ranch: 12.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 SPG
Mekhi Perry, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes: 17 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.3 SPG
Isaiah Ramsey, sophomore, Wesley Chapel: 18.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Angelo Sardegna, junior, Steinbrenner: 12.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG
Roney Webster, senior, Pasco: 18.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Jamaal Wright, junior, Sunlake: 15.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG

Girls

Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 4A)
Record: 28-4 overall, 8-1 district 4-4A

After a resounding 32-point victory over Gainesville P.K. Yonge in the Class 4A state semifinals, it appeared as though Carrollwood Day School was well on its way to a state championship. Alas, the Patriots run fell just short after losing to Miami Country Day — with that team claiming its fifth straight state title.

Even so, the Patriots are no flash in the pan.

Its entire roster is comprised of six sophomores, two eighth-graders, a junior and a freshman. Four of those players — each a sophomore— averaged double figures in scoring: Tarriyonna Gary (15 points), Tiasia McMillan (14 points), Nabaweeyah McGill (12.6 points) and Cairah Mays (10.1 points).

Additionally, the team is coached by Karim Nohra, one of the most successful girls basketball coaches in Tampa. The Patriots also won 28 games last year — Nohra’s first with the program after leaving Academy at the Lakes.

Sunlake High Seahawks (Class 7A)
Record: 20-8 overall, 6-1 district 8-7A

Buoyed be a senior-laden group of contributors, Sunlake won 20 games for the first time in school history, captured its third straight district title, and fell just one win shy of reaching the Class 7A Final Four. They also earned a four-game sweep of district rival Mitchell High.

Its ability to force turnovers proved troubling for opposing offenses all season long. The Seahawks allowed just 39 points per game and gave up 50 or more points in just five contests.

Like last season — when the team won 18 games — the Seahawks were carried primarily by the same four players: 6-foot-1 forward and double-double machine Andrea Wallace (13.3 points, 10.6 rebounds) and guards Kasia Ramirez, Mary Moran and Elizabeth Moran. All seniors, finding capable replacements will be a must for the team to have a fourth straight winning season in 2019.

Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls (Class 8A)
Record: 20-9, 11-3 district 8-8A)

Wiregrass Ranch celebrated yet another 20-win season— it’s fifth straight and sixth in the last seven years under head coach John Gant. No small task as the Bulls play in a tough district that also features Plant, Steinbrenner and Freedom high schools. More striking, perhaps, is the Bulls’ extremely young roster. Outside of senior guard Alexis Bolden (10.8 points), the 2018 team was composed entirely of freshman and sophomores. That means Wiregrass should be exciting to watch for the next several years, thanks in part to the freshman duo of 6-foot-2 forward Zoi Evans (11.6 points, 11.4 rebounds) and 5-foot-7 guard Alexis Couzens (9.9 points, 4 rebounds).

Other notable girls teams:

Steinbrenner High (15-10 overall, 10-4 district 8-8A)

Other notable girls players:

Kiara Broner, senior, Pasco: 14.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.6 SPG
Valeria Burbano, senior, Wesley Chapel: 9.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.2 SPG
Regina Henry, senior, Wharton: 8.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.0 SPG
Isabella Prada, freshman, Bishop McLaughlin: 16 PPG, 3.2 APG, 3 RPG, 4 SPG
Ashauna Jones, freshman, Zephyrhills Christian Academy: 10.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.1 SPG
Lexi Kilfoyl, junior, Academy at the Lakes: 11 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 5 BPG

–Stats compiled using MaxPreps.com—

Published March 14, 2018

Expanded playoffs, other changes on tap for high school football

January 24, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

An expanded playoff format and other changes are likely headed to Florida high school football next season.

During the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Athletic Director Advisory Committee (ADAC) meeting earlier this month, the group endorsed a handful of proposals that would affect the sport beginning this fall.

The first would be to add two more teams from each region to the state playoffs for Classes 1A-4A.

Under the FHSAA’s revamped playoff system implemented for the first time last season, four teams in each of the four regions qualified for the postseason based on points.

This year, six teams would qualify, with the top two seeds earning byes into the second round — thus increasing the playoffs from 16 to 24 teams.

Small schools like Zephyrhills Christian Academy could benefit from the FHSAA’s playoff expansion proposal for high school football. (Courtesy of Zephyrhlls Christian Academy Athletics)

The proposed changes are an effort to allow more teams to qualify for the playoffs, and also give the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds the opportunity to play a home game, thereby increasing revenue for their schools.

The FHSAA’s Board of Directors will vote to implement the change at its Jan. 29 meeting. If approved, the rule takes effect this fall.

The FHSAA’s Football Coaches Advisory Committee previously voted unanimously to recommend the increase in the number of Classes 1A-4A teams advancing to the postseason from each region.

The FHSAA passed the original playoff system in September 2016, as a measure to base football postseason berths on a points system in Classes 1A-4A, rewarding teams for winning records and strength of schedule; Classes 5A-8A are still in districts and eight teams in four regions get into the playoffs.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy (Class 2A) was the only small school from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to make the playoffs last season. The team, which was a No. 4 seed, lost in the first round.

Other small schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area that could be affected by the playoff expansion format are Carrollwood Day School (Class 2A) and Cypress Creek Middle High School (Class 4A).

The ADAC also endorsed several other football-related changes:

To clearly define the FHSAA’s procedures for postponed and interrupted games. For example, if a game is interrupted due to weather, teams will effectively be required to finish the following day or set up a mutually agreed-upon date by 9 a.m. the next day. The final procedures are expected to be modified before August, in order to be enforced for the 2018 season.
To increase points for a “high-quality” loss. Starting this fall, 35 points will be awarded for losing to a Category 1 team (previously 30). The five-point increase also applies for losses to Category 2 (30), 3 (25) and 4 (20) teams.

The measure ensures a loss to a Category 1 team (8-2 record or better) is the same as beating a Category 4 team (0-10 to 3-7 record). There was a five-point discrepancy before, allowing teams to play lesser teams and be rewarded more than playing and losing to a top team. Category 1 teams are those that won 80 percent or more of their games; Category 2 teams won at least 60 percent of their games, but no more than 79 percent; Category 3 teams won at least 40 percent of their games, but no more than 59 percent; and Category 4 teams won less than 39 percent of their games.

To approve a 40-second play clockpending approval by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The rationale is to make every game more uniform in that each referee has the ability to speed up or slow down a game. There would be parameters to move to a 25-second play clock following penalties, on kickoffs and so on.

FHSAA rules changes are imminent in several other sports, too.

Swimming & Diving: The committee agreed to allow the FHSAA to create guidelines regarding pay structure for schools to follow. Lastly, the ADAC voted to have a minimum of four officials at the state swimming & diving meet.
Cross Country: The ADAC approved two action items that will next go before the Cross Country Advisory Committee this December. The first approval was to allow the use of watches with GPS capabilities during all cross-country meets. The final item supported was awarding the top-15 placing runners at the state meet.
Track & Field: The ADAC accepted the Track & Field Advisory Committee’s recommendation to add javelin to the state series in 2020. The rule change will reappear in front of the Track & Field Advisory Committee this May.
Golf: The ADAC voted to extend golf’s regular season from 14 contests to 16 contests. The FHSAA Board of Directors will vote on this as an action item in the near future.

Published January 24, 2018

Recalling some top moments in sports for 2017

December 27, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Coaches were celebrated, state titles acquired and local athletes turned in outstanding performances.

The past year brought countless moments and lasting memories in sports, from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, across to Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

Here’s a look back at some of the top sports happenings from 2017:

Florida Hospital Center Ice opens
Hockey and ice-skating enthusiasts rejoiced when the largest ice sports facility in the Southeastern United States finally opened its doors in Wesley Chapel.

Florida Hospital Center Ice has been a hit since it opened in January. The five-rink facility is on pace to draw 1.5 million visitors in its first year. (File)

The 150,500-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice, unveiled in January, took about 2 ½ years to complete.

The main attraction of the $22.5 million complex, of course, is its four full-size rinks (one Olympic, three National Hockey League) and one kid-size rink.

Previously, many Pasco and northern Hillsborough residents would trek to Brandon’s Ice Sports Forum to get their hockey and skating fix. Others may have used the Clearwater Ice Arena or the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar.

Besides serving local hockey players, skaters and curlers, the facility already has scored on Pasco’s sports tourism initiative by hosting a number of camps, collegiate competitions and other tournaments — drawing an estimated 1.5 million visitors in its first year.

It has also become the training home of the U.S. women’s national hockey team, as members prepare for the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Land O’ Lakes High wins state softball title
It had been nearly 25 years since a Pasco County school won a state softball title — until May 20.

On that day, Land O’ Lakes seized the Class 6A state softball championship, unseating powerhouse Plantation American Heritage 3-1, at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

Land O’ Lakes High School ended Pasco County’s state softball title drought, after defeating American Heritage 3-1 in the Class 6A state championships on May 20. The victory marked the first fastpitch title for the Gators, and first for a Pasco school since 1992

The achievement marked the first fastpitch title for Land O’Lakes and the first for a Pasco County program since Ridgewood High won in 1992.

What made the victory even sweeter for the Gators was downing the same team that eliminated them in the 2016 state semifinals.

They did it in comeback fashion, too.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Land O’ Lakes unearthed timely hits and capitalized on opposition mistakes to build the lead for good — against an American Heritage program that was making its fourth-straight championship game appearance and had previously won seven state titles.

The Gators ended the year with a 29-3 record.

And, the accolades didn’t stop there.

In July, Gators coaches were named the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) High School Coaching Staff of the Year, beating out staffs from other top-tier programs in California, New Jersey, Illinois and Kansas. The recognition went to Gators fourth-year head coach Mitch Wilkins and assistants Edwin Rodriguez, Janet Sciales and Vinny Guarracino.

Paralympic athletes excel at nationals
It was another banner year for Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay.

The team in July won its second straight Small Team Division at the National Junior Disability Championships in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Three athletes — Eric Lowry, 17, of Land O’ Lakes; Danielle Kanas, 12, of Lutz; and 16-year-old Logan Krepop of Parrish — earned a combined thirty-three medals and set nine national records. In total, they collected 18 gold, 11 silver and four bronze medals.

Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay this July won its second straight Small Team Division at the National Junior Disability Championships in Middleton, Wisconsin. Lutz resident Danielle Kanas, a single-arm amputee, earned 15 gold medals and set six national records this year.

Kanas — a single-arm amputee, missing her left arm below the elbow — herself collected 15 gold medals and set six national records this year.

That included a javelin throw of 19.66 meters, shattering the previous record for her age group by six meters.

After the season, Kanas earned Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay’s “Spirit of Excellence” award. The club’s highest honor, it recognizes courage, strength, determination and demonstration of a positive attitude as a role model.

Beyond athletics, Kanas is a “straight-A” student at Martinez Middle School, and member of the National Junior Honor Society, a Girl Scout, and patient ambassador at Shriner’s Hospital for Children-Tampa. She’s also a talented guitar player.

The others likewise have overcome various hardships to shine in athletics.

Lowry has spina bifida and competes from a wheelchair. It didn’t stop him from benching 190 pounds, earning a gold medal and setting an Adaptive Sports Junior national record.

And Krepop, who has cerebral palsy, earned a gold medal in the 400-meter run. His time of 1:33.14 set a new Adaptive Sports record for his age group.

Zephyrhills High honors winningest football coach
It was the perfect time for Zephyrhills High School to honor its winningest football coach.

The Bulldogs earned a district championship, won a playoff game, and finished the season with 10 wins.

That was all last done in 2002 — under former longtime coach Tom Fisher.

This year, the school’s Bulldog Stadium was formally renamed Tom Fisher Field at its Oct. 27 homecoming

During the school’s Oct. 27 homecoming, Zephyrhills High’s Bulldog Stadium was officially renamed Tom Fisher Field after its longtime coach of 21 years. Fisher retired in 2008 as the program’s winningest coach, with 124 career victories.

The dedication ceremony was attended by Fisher, and drew dozens of former players and coaches, as well as many of his family members and friends.

Fisher — regarded as a hard-nosed, no nonsense type who voraciously studied game films — retired in 2008 after 21 years as head coach.

In his tenure, Fisher won 124 games (most in program history) and led Bulldogs teams to eight playoff berths, four conference championships and three district titles; he also was a four-time conference coach of the year.

Moreover, the Zephyrhills football program had gone 47 years without a state playoff appearance until Fisher’s arrival, making it in his first season in 1989.

Another example of Fisher’s extensive impact: The Bulldogs’ past two head coaches, Nick Carroll and Reggie Roberts, both played for him over 20 years ago.

The most successful player under Fisher was defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, who played 14 years in the NFL, mostly for the St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers. Pickett, a 1998 Zephyrhills graduate, started as a freshman at Ohio State, left after his junior season to play professionally and was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Though its been nearly a decade since the 65-year-old Fisher last roamed the sidelines, he still can be found in the stands at many Bulldogs home games.

Academy at the Lakes wins state football title
Following three straight losing football seasons, Academy at the Lakes football experienced a remarkable turnaround in 2017 — capped by its first eight-man state title on Dec. 9 with a 30-9 win over Jacksonville Old Plank Academy.

The Wildcats, under fourth-year head coach Shawn Brown, finished the season 11-1, with a 7-0 district mark.

Many of their wins came in dominating fashion, with an average scoring margin of nearly 34 points.

Academy at the Lakes football overcame three straight losing seasons to win its first eight-man state title on Dec. 9. They finished the season 11-1, after going a combined 9-20 the past three years.

It was quite the contrast from past years.

The team went 2-8 in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

This year’s success harkens back to its summer offseason program, which included weightlifting sessions three days a week, participating in Division I college camps, and competing in various seven-on-seven tournaments — sometimes facing 11-man schools from Classes 7A and 8A.

The Wildcats’ solid talent base didn’t hurt its gridiron performances, either.

Senior tailback/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez was the most productive two-way player in the eight-man ranks— rushing for 1,125 yards and 24 touchdowns on offense, and tallying 138 tackles and 7.5 sacks on defense.

Several others made significant impacts as well, including freshmen Jalen Brown and Jordan Oladokun, juniors Jamaal Johnson and Dylan Price, and senior Isaiah Smith, among others.

The football program’s last state title came in 2006, when Academy at the Lakes played in the six-man ranks.

Some other notable highlights from 2017:

Wesley Chapel High varsity softball has first winning season in program history
Cypress Creek High varsity football wins its inaugural game against Gulf High
Wesley Chapel hoops product Erik Thomas appears in NCAA Tournament
Academy at the Lakes athlete Alexis Kilfoyl makes 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team
Land O’Lakes’ Jabari Ramsey becomes the first boys swimmer from Pasco County to win three-straight state titles in the same event (100 breaststroke).
Carrollwood Day School volleyball wins the Class 4A state title, to earn the school’s first state championship in any sport.

• Steinbrenner baseball alum Kevin Merrell is selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Published December 27, 2017

Prep football mid-season review

October 18, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

With the midway point of the 2017 prep football season recently passing by, here’s a look at some noteworthy teams and players in The Laker/Lutz News coverage.

Best team: Zephyrhills High Bulldogs (6-1 overall, 5-0 district)

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs have been dominant under second-year head coach Nick Carroll. (File)

Aside from an early season hiccup to Wiregrass Ranch (31-to-29 loss), the Bulldogs have planted themselves as one of the top — and most electrifying— teams in the Tampa Bay area, under second-year head coach Nick Carroll. Look no further than its balanced, yet potent offense, which is averaging 49 points and nearly 400 total yards per game.

And, Zephyrhills now stands alone at the top of District 8-5A after securing a 38-35 win over River Ridge on Oct. 13 — ending the Knights’ 23-game district win steak that spanned back to 2013.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ toughest remaining game is an Oct. 20 road matchup against Wesley Chapel (6-2 overall), which has won two straight games since the departure of its top player, senior cornerback Isaiah Bolden. (Bolden was dismissed from the team on Oct. 4 due to undisclosed reasons).

Should Zephyrhills win two more contests this season, it will mark the fourth consecutive year the program has won eight games.

Consideration for best team also given to: Gaither Cowboys, Wesley Chapel High Wildcats, Wiregrass Ranch Bulls, Zephyrhills Christian Warriors

Biggest surprise: Gaither High Cowboys (5-2 overall, 4-1 district)

The Gaither High Cowboys are looking for their first winning season since 2014. (Courtesy of Gaither High football)

The Cowboys have utilized an explosive running game (280 rushing yards per game, 7.7 yards per carry) and suffocating defense (13 points per game allowed) to become one of the toughest teams to face in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Quite a feat, considering the Cowboys entered the season with just five seniors for first-year head coach Kirk Karsen.

Expectations this season were relatively tame, moreover, following the graduations of two Division I talents — linebackers Decalon Brooks and Estefano Feliciano — and top offensive playmaker in TJ Williams. Standout quarterback Gavin Denboer’s offseason transfer to Alonso High School didn’t help the team’s preseason outlook, either.

Though several of Gaither’s wins have come against struggling teams, the Cowboys quieted doubters after a convincing 23-13 win over Wiregrass Ranch on Oct. 6. In that game, the Cowboys rushed for a combined 259 yards, while garnering four sacks and forcing three turnovers.

With three regular season games remaining, the Cowboys look to secure its first winning season since 2014.

Consideration for biggest surprise also given to: Pasco High Pirates

Biggest slide: Sunlake High Seahawks (3-4 overall, 2-1 district)
While Sunlake was expected to be in rebuilding mode this season, it’s still startling to see a losing

Sunlake running back Bryant Beacham has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Seawhawks. (File)

record attached to the historically dominant program, under longtime head coach Bill Browning.

The Seahawks have had to mold a new quarterback and several starters, both on defense and at multiple skill positions.

A brutal regular season schedule hasn’t offered many favors, either.

Sunlake’s first three contests were against Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Wiregrass Ranch high schools — who have a combined 18-4 overall record.

And, it doesn’t get any easier, with road dates remaining against Mitchell High (7-0 overall) and River Ridge High(4-3 overall).

The Seahawks, meanwhile, will need to win two of its last three games to prevent suffering its first losing season since 2009. From 2010 to 2016, the Seahawks went a combined 60-16.

Disappointing season aside, Seahwawks fans have been able to witness one of the county’s top offensive playmakers, in running back Bryant Beacham. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior is averaging over 100 yards per game to go along with nine rushing touchdowns. He’s also on pace to become the program’s first single-season 1,000-yard rusher since 2014, when then-senior Nathan Johnson tallied 1,088 yards.

Five who’ve shined:

Charles Harrison III, senior quarterback, Zephyrhills High Bulldogs
The three-year starter is arguably the county’s top signal-caller, tossing 21 touchdowns with just five interceptions, to go with a 62 percent completion rate.
Jordan Miner, senior cornerback/wide receiver, Wiregrass Ranch High Bulls
The Penn State signee and four-star prospect has lived up to the hype as a jack-of-all-trades, making key contributions on offense (424 yards), defense (25 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defensed) and special teams (125 return yards).
Austen Wittish, senior linebacker, Wesley Chapel High Wildcats
The 6-foot, 195-pound inside linebacker ranks among the state’s top tacklers (104 total tackles), to go along with five sacks.
Darrion Robinson, sophomore wide receiver, Pasco High Pirates
The young 5-foot-11 wideout has quickly developed into one of the county’s most productive receivers, tallying 17 receptions for 412 yards and eight touchdowns.
Jeromy Reid, junior running back, Gaither High Cowboys
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound tailback is having a breakout campaign, pacing all of District 8-7A with 863 rushing yards (123 yards per game, 9.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.Team records:
The Laker/Lutz News coverage area includes the following schools from Hillsborough and Pasco counties:

Hillsborough:
Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 2A-Region 3): (2-3 overall, 1-1 district)

Freedom High School Patriots (Class 7A-Region 8): (2-5 overall, 1-3 district)

Gaither High School Cowboys (Class 7A-Region 8): (5-2 overall, 4-1 district)

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (Class 8A-Region 6): (2-5 overall, 1-3 district)

Wharton High School Wildcats (Class 7A-Region 8): (2-5 overall, 1-3 district)

Pasco:
Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (8-man-Florida Christian Region 2): (5-1 overall, 5-0 district)

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (Independent-Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC): (3-4 overall, 2-2 district)

Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes (Class 4A-Region 3): (1-6 overall, 0-0 district)

Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (Class 6A-Region 6): (2-4 overall, 0-2 district)

Pasco High School Pirates (Class 6A-Region 6): (4-4 overall, 0-2 district)

Sunlake High School Seahawks (Class 6A-Region 6): (3-4 overall, 2-1 district)

Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (Class 5A-Region 8): (6-2 overall, 4-1 district)

Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (Class 7A-Region 8): (6-1 overall, 3-1 district)

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (Class 5A-Region 8): (6-1 overall, 5-0 district)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (Class 2A-Region 2): (6-1-1 overall, 0-1 district)

–Stats compiled from Maxpreps.com—

Published Oct. 18, 2017