The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Land O' Lakes High School

Library is all-in for robotics

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Edgar is a show-off.

He flips a large exercise ball into the air with a thumping, quick-action lever.

But the roving robot – a compact collection of digitized metal, plastic and wires – would be nothing without his human creators – the Edgar Allan Ohms Robotics Team.

The little guy- all 15 pounds or so – couldn’t even whir and zip across the floor without a human programming a computer and toggling a joystick.

Edgar the robot rests quietly after demonstrating his throwing skills to Regan Kubus, left, Lego club mother Audrey Pease, Bryce Kubus, Felix Nguyen, Maaz Khan, Danny Urbonas, Dylan Pease, Corey Drexler and library administrator Sean McGarvey. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Edgar the robot rests quietly after demonstrating his throwing skills to Regan Kubus, left, Lego club mother Audrey Pease, Bryce Kubus, Felix Nguyen, Maaz Khan, Danny Urbonas, Dylan Pease, Corey Drexler and library administrator Sean McGarvey.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The human operators are impressed at what robots can do at their commands.

“They can do whatever you want them to,” said 15-year-old Logan Boudreau. “The way each component works with other components to complete a task is fascinating.”

Boudreau is among about 25 members of Edgar Allan Ohms, a nearly two-year-old robotics team that is sponsored by the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.

The library’s sponsorship is unique and possibly the only one of its kind in the nation, the robotics team’s website says. So far no one has found a similar team at any state or regional competitions where most teams are based at area middle and high schools.

Library officials are taking another step forward in their commitment to robotics by creating FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League teams for youngsters who could be the next generation of engineers for the robotics team.

With help from NASA grants, the goal is to have seven teams that can compete in FIRST Lego League competitions.

Grants from NASA and the county, each for $5,000, helped seed the Edgar Allan Ohms team in 2014. Business sponsorships and about $3,000 from fundraising also paid initial costs.

“The one thing you know is there are a lot of very nice people in the community,” said Joel Croteau, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and lead mentor for the robotics team.

Library officials kicked off the Lego efforts last month at area libraries.

“We’re trying to get a feel for how we can get this to work for us and for them,” said Alicia Haney, youth services librarian at the Land O’ Lakes branch. “We want kids to have an opportunity to get interested.”

The Danish-invented brand – Lego – is a titan among children’s games, almost a rite of passage for youngsters who love piecing together its interlocking building blocks.

Their creations can be as basic as a house or as complex as a movie-themed action figure.

Lego’s “Mindstorms” game takes imagination to the next level with creations that are programmable and mobile.

Haney said children learn the importance of precision, math and step-by-step logic.

“It’s the first step before you get to the robotics team,” she said. “It’s an eye-opening thing. They find out: This is how my game works. We’re also trying to keep it fun,” Haney said.

Lego fun piqued the interest of many on the robotics team. Miller Bacon, 15, and Boudreau remember Lego games from seventh grade.

“We’ve all had an interest in robots somewhat since we were little,” Bacon said.

Phoebe Mitchell, 15, didn’t have robotics on her radar when she went to a library-sponsored Rockus Maximus battle of the bands. But a robot got her attention. “I was allowed to drive it a couple of minutes,” she said. “I decided to try it. It’s fun.”

In 2014, the rookie team placed 43rd among 62 competitors at the FIRST Robotics Competition Orlando Regional. The theme was “Aerial Assist.” The Pasco County Commission honored the team with a resolution.

FIRST was founded by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway.

The Edgar Allan Ohms team built a second, larger robot, dubbed 2chainz, for the 2015 competition with the theme of “Recycle Rush.”

Team robots picked up and stacked recyclable containers and totes to earn points for accomplished tasks. The Land O’ Lakes team landed in 45th spot against 66 regional and international competitors including teams from Florida, Georgia, Germany and Turkey.

“That was a good showing for a second-year team in a very competitive event,” said Croteau.

Team members attend Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake and Wiregrass Ranch high schools. Some members are home-schooled.

In April, the Land O’ Lakes library set up the county’s first “makerspace” in a former computer lab, providing 3-D printers, an auto-CAD (computer-assisted design) computer and 3-D virtual reality gaming glasses.

The robotics team is in keeping with the goal of encouraging technology and creative arts.

With the regional FIRST challenges under its belt, the team isn’t idle. After school, they tinker with Edgar and 2chainz to make them better.

Other competitions, including clashes between “battle bots,” are on the horizon. These robots are smaller, speedier and designed to flip and disable competitors.

“The thing about battle bots is to build the most destructive robot within the guidelines,” said Boudreau. “That’s the hope. The more destructive the better.”

On a recent afternoon the robotics team and the Land O’ Lakes Lego club shared space to work on their own projects.

Edgar got a brief work out, tossing the giant ball.

Lego club members took turns programming a “Mindstorms” Lego robot they had built from scratch.

“The program is real simple and easy,” said Sean McGarvey, library administrator. “If you have any experience on a computer, you can start right away. You can get really intricate.”

Dylan Pease, 11, sat at the computer tapping in instructions for the robot that would be “a little, little more complicated.”

His brother Matthew Pease is on the robotics team, and that is Dylan’s goal when he gets to the ninth grade.

Their mother Audrey Pease supports her sons’ passion for robotics.

“I hope they learn a bit about program management, time management, team work and gain leadership skills,” she said. “I watch and support, but I don’t mess with it.”

The focus was on getting the Lego robot to either pick up and stack an object, or roam across a game board in search of a brown dot.

“It’s kind of complicated, and I like it,” said 10-year-old Regan Kubus who is home-schooled with her 11-year-old brother Bryce Kubus. “Sometimes you get to build them, and that’s really cool.”

Bryce Kubus busied himself drawing a banner for the team and waiting a turn at driving the robot. “I like putting it together,” he said.

Team member Corey Drexler, 11, said he really liked programming the robots. “Basically it’s controlling the robot, like mind control.”

McGarvey said robotics is one more way libraries are expanding their knowledge base and keeping children interested in learning.

The library helps kids develop talents they didn’t know they had, McGarvey said.

“It’s a very good program. Kids learn a lot,” he said.

Published May 6, 2015

Thai fighting traditions in Land O’ Lakes

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Muay Thai is a combat sport, and elements of it can be seen in popular mixed martial arts competitions on television. But at KOH Muay Thai, 6450 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., students get an appreciation for the sport that’s very different from televised battles.

“You don’t see people disrespect their opponents,” said head trainer Ben Marrs, who is also co-owner of KOH Muay Thai. “There’s no trash-talking. If you knock your opponent out, you go see if he’s OK. You bow to him. If you have a good fight with someone, win or lose, you always show respect.”

Head trainer Ben Marrs adjusts the equipment of Raef Toler during a Muay Thai workout session. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Head trainer Ben Marrs adjusts the equipment of Raef Toler during a Muay Thai workout session.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Marrs teaches Muay Thai the way he learned it: With the principles and customs that come straight from Thailand. His first trainer was from Thailand, and Marrs himself spent a great deal of time there, competing and learning the discipline from the place where it originated.

While KOH Muay Thai has a ring where competitions can take place, most of their students don’t actually fight there. They have to earn the ability to spar, and most of them are there for fitness and the self-defense benefits. And those benefits can be pretty significant according to Marrs.

“You can leave here in one class and take something away from it that will help you for the rest of your life. One class,” he said.

Most students, of course, take more than one class. They become regulars.

That includes his business partner’s son. Co-owner Melisa Philange put her son, Owen Male, into a Muay Thai program after she felt he wasn’t progressing in a different martial art.

Even though her son is just 6 years old, Philange is happy with what he’s gained from it.

“It’s fantastic. I love it. He does so well. He has a nice sense of respect for himself.”

Learning Muay Thai, and the traditions that go with it, is good for young people, and can also help with problems associated with bullying, Philange said.

KOH Muay Thai is something people of all ages can learn and practice.

One of the teens involved is Raef Toler. He didn’t originally see himself as someone who would become heavily involved in martial arts. But now that he’s found Muay Thai, he’s hooked.

“I was anxious at first, but when I got in here I was like, you know what? This is something I really love to do,” Toler said.

The Land O’ Lakes High School junior now comes by at least twice a week after school, both for self-defense purposes and for an intense workout. After just a few weeks, he’s excited about his progress and is interested in fighting on an amateur basis.

Whether someone wants to start competing or simply wants to get in better shape, another philosophy they honor is the concept of togetherness.

“It becomes like a family,” Marrs said. For him, that often includes cooking for a class that meets on Saturdays, preparing authentic Thai cuisine that he studied while overseas.

But Marrs’ main passion is teaching, and after achieving the lofty rank of Kru Yai (assistant master) earlier this month, he’s in even better position to see his students transition into healthier, happier people.

“That’s the best part. I watch people who join, they come in, and I watch their body change in four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks. And they feel so good about themselves,” he said.

And for Philange, she’s happy to bring authentic Muay Thai to an area that has martial arts academies, but nothing as dedicated to the philosophy and spirituality of this particular discipline.

“There’s nothing like it,” said Philange, who also lives in Land O’ Lakes. “It brings culture to our community.”

KOH Muay Thai has a current promotion where students can take their first class for free. For more information, call (941) 713-1257.

Published April 29, 2015

Land O’ Lakes softball completes dominating season

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After going 13-13 in his first year coaching the Land O’ Lakes High School softball team, there was probably an expectation of improvement and becoming more competitive in his second season.

But nobody expected a 24-3 record. Not even the team’s coach.

I knew we’d be a lot better. I didn’t know our record would be this much better,” said Mitch Wilkins.

But the Gators really were that much better.

Softball coach Mitch Wilkins will say farewell to four seniors, but has an undefeated junior varsity team full of talent to find replacements. (Courtesy of Edwin Rodriguez)
Softball coach Mitch Wilkins will say farewell to four seniors, but has an undefeated junior varsity team full of talent to find replacements.
(Courtesy of Edwin Rodriguez)

It took players just 14 games to match last season’s win total, and they capped off the regular season with 10 straight victories. After beating Fivay 15-0 to open the district playoffs, Land O’ Lakes dropped a 2-1 decision to River Ridge. All three of the team’s defeats were by just one run.

The team’s success was no accident.

The coach, a retired police officer who has been coaching for more than 30 years, took his role seriously.

Wilkins — who has coached with the Lutz Lightning and the Lutz Leaguerettes — found out which of his players also played on travel ball softball teams, and he went to watch them play, including the junior varsity players.

He also created a travel ball team for the junior varsity team, so they’d get in extra work over the summer.

As a result, the junior varsity team had one loss and one tie last season, and went undefeated this past season. That provides not only a good foundation for the softball program, but a talented reserve that Wilkins can use to replace graduating seniors on his varsity squad. It also helps to create a true team atmosphere that fosters camaraderie.

“The girls get used to playing with each other. They understand the brand of ball that we play. And they enjoy it, or they wouldn’t still be there,” Wilkins said.

That style of ball doesn’t include a lot of power hitting. Instead, the Gators try to remain unpredictable, combining strong pitching with stealing, bunting and hitting to overwhelm their opponents. And with seven shutouts and eight games where they scored double-digits, that style is working.

It’s also working for junior Gaby Santiago, who has played with the team since her freshman year.

Santiago notices a big difference in the team since Wilkins came on board.

“Since coach got here, team unity has gotten better,” Santiago said. “My freshmen year it was kind of a mess, but coach really brought us together over the past two years.”

Wilkins showed the team that he cared early on, Santiago said. By showing up to their travel ball games, it was clear that he was serious about building a strong program and getting the most out of his players. Team meals have also become a regular part of game day, which has also improved team unity.

Another activity Wilkins introduced to Land O’ Lakes is what he calls “positives.” After each game, the team gathers and gives positive feedback to each other, noting what their teammates did well during the game.

“We always end with positives. After the game we circle up and everybody’s got to say something positive that somebody else did during the game,” Wilkins explained. Allowing players to hear praise from their teammates helps keep things in perspective, softens the blow when things don’t go well and lets the team end each game on a high note, regardless of the score.

With a successful season in the books and a strong foundation in place, the future also looks to be promising for the Gators. They’ll lose four seniors, but have a skilled junior varsity squad to find replacements, and a team mindset to help the new players fit in.

And even though they didn’t go as far as they wanted this season, Wilkins is pleased with their effort and success.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Wilkins said.

Published April 29, 2015

Land O’ Lakes girls reach state soccer finals

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The Land O’ Lakes girls soccer team might have surprised some people by reaching the Class 3A state finals. But it didn’t surprise their coach.

“I said at our parent meeting (last October) I have high expectations. I expect to be in the state finals in February,” said coach Vicky King.

The Land O' Lakes girls soccer team reached the state finals with an attacking offense and stifling defense. (Courtesy of Vicky King)
The Land O’ Lakes girls soccer team reached the state finals with an attacking offense and stifling defense.
(Courtesy of Vicky King)

And if King believes something, there’s good reason to take her at her word. After 28 seasons coaching the team, including a state title in 2003, King has established herself as a good judge of talent. And King was right on the money last October, leading the Gators to a perfect 8-0 record in Class 3A-8, a 1-0 victory over Matanzas in the regional final and a close 2-1 victory over Ponte Vedra in the state semifinal that ended with penalty kicks to determine the winner.

Land O’ Lakes eventually fell in a 2-1 overtime loss to defending state champion American Heritage. But they were right where King said they’d be in February and finished with a 24-2 record.

King knew early on she had the talent to go far in the playoffs. In fact, she said this was the most talented Land O’ Lakes team that she’s coached. And they weren’t just dominant in one part of the game.

“It’s a very well-rounded team,” King said. “We’ve always been very good defensively, but we produced a lot more off this year and had a lot of offensive threats.”

There were a few minor setbacks along the way, King said. Late buses, rescheduled games and a late start to pre-season tryouts were just a few obstacles they overcame. But they had some good luck, too, like avoiding major injuries. All 22 players who started the season were available in the state final.

Throughout the season, they played the same attacking style regardless of opponent, and it served them well. Although they were ahead most of the time, they did come from behind in a couple of games during the year. Those comebacks showed perseverance, King said, and an ability to work through difficulties as a team without pointing fingers and blaming each other.

The coach credits the team’s juniors and seniors for keeping expectations high and teaching the program’s philosophy to the younger players. It’s up to them, King said, to be leaders and take ownership in their success on the field.

“I coach them, but it’s their team,” she said.

One of those players is junior Tori Cannata, who has already committed to playing at the next level for the University of Arkansas. She believes that even though the players are the ones on the pitch, the coach is a big part of the team’s success.

“What makes coach King special is the way she runs the program,” Cannata said. “Everyone just respects her completely.”

To show that respect, players give their best effort to prove they belong on the team, and practice hard so as not to let up on the program’s momentum.

This year’s momentum also meant some well-deserved accolades for the coach, as well. King won the 2015 Florida Dairy Farmers Girls’ Soccer Class 3A Coach of the Year award.

While she said it’s an honor to be recognized and appreciates the award, it’s clear she doesn’t like too much attention directed at herself, but instead thinks it should be on the team. She’s won awards before, but when asked for details she preferred not to elaborate on her personal accomplishments.

“If you really need it, I can tell you how many times (she’s won coach of the year awards), but whatever,” King said.

Instead, she likes to focus on the team and maintaining a quality program. She’ll lose four seniors (two of whom are starters), so most of the team should remain intact. And with good depth to help replace the players they’re losing, they should continue to be a competitive team.

While they fell just short of a state title, King can look back on this past season as one of the best.

“We have to consider it one of our most successful seasons as far as level of play, the dominance, going it to the final four, winning the semifinal on (penalty kicks),” she said. “Those were all great deeds.”

Published April 8, 2015

Three cheers for state champs

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When Pasco-Hernando State College won a state championship last month, there was a lot of cheering.

Not just from fans or family members.

The cheering actually came from the team itself.

Because that’s exactly how they won the title – from cheering.

Practice and teamwork have helped Pasco-Hernando State College’s cheerleading squad claim a state title. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Practice and teamwork have helped Pasco-Hernando State College’s cheerleading squad claim a state title.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The PHSC cheer team won the College Co-Ed Level Six division state title at The American Cheer & Dance Championships for Florida, held Feb. 7 at the Florida State Fair. Their routine, which lasted 2 minutes and 30 seconds, earned a score of 92.30 out of 100, which earned the team first place in their division.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Sophia Haddad, the team’s head coach.

Haddad is in her first year leading the team, but she’s no stranger to PHSC cheerleading. She helped start the cheer team as a student back in 2009, and was part of the cheerleading squad that also won a state title a few years ago.

At just 23 years old, Haddad has athletes on the team who are older than her.

She considers it an advantage, to be close in age to the cheerleaders on her squad.

It helps her connect with the team, and she’s not afraid to get on the mat herself and demonstrate what to do, if it will help get her message across.

“I can see it through their eyes,” Haddad said. “I think I can relate a little bit more to them.”

As a former state champion, she also can relate to their success.

Haddad writes the team’s routines, and said she’s able to highlight their strengths in a way that judges will notice.

Those strengths include moves like stunting and pyramids, which require not just physical ability and skill, but a level of trust and teamwork that’s hard to achieve.

The team’s success stems not only from the members’ talent.

A good attitude, Haddad said, is essential to creating a successful routine and a championship squad.

“You can come in and have good skill, but if you’re not a team player and you don’t have the right attitude, then you’re not anything to the team. You’re not helping them in any way. If anything, you bring them down.”

Right now nobody is bringing down the Conquistadors, who will travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the national championships, which begin March 20.

The team will compete as a group and also in a separate stunting category.

Haddad has a good feeling about how they’ll perform on the national stage.

Karlee Roach, a PHSC sophomore who attended Land O’ Lakes High School, shares Haddad’s optimism about the team’s prospects.

Roach cheered for her school as a Gator, but said things become a little more intense at the college level when a state title is on the line.

“The pressure of it, representing our school, was very, very different than high school,” Roach said.

Winning the title also brought special satisfaction for her.

In high school, she felt like the squad during her senior year had the talent to win the state championship, but it didn’t finish in the top three.

She still believes the scoring was questionable and did not represent what the team achieved on the mat.

Winning at PHSC has provided some validation for Roach and her squad.

“That is why I wanted to join the cheerleading team here, because I wanted to prove that I am not fourth. I am first. And it’s not just me. It’s the team. We are,” Roach said.

Roach takes her cheerleading seriously, and she proves it outside of practice and competitions. She’s in the gym three or four times a week, doing weight training or cardio to stay at her best. Everybody on the team puts in their time to perform at a championship level, she said.

But for all that work, many people still think of the cheerleaders as the people on the side of a game, or simply dancing around. They don’t see the practice time, the injuries, the training and the teamwork that goes into building a winning program.

“A lot of work goes into it, and nobody realizes how much,” Roach said.

At PHSC, that’s changing.

Roach has been stopped by faculty and school administrators and congratulated for the team’s success. Over time, people are recognizing that the team’s hard work is paying off, and it feels nice to be noticed for their accomplishments.

For Haddad, those accomplishments include being good students. As an academic advisor for the school, she knows the importance of making sure athletes put importance on their classes.

Cheerleading helps in those and other areas, by teaching team members the importance of working in groups and providing support, whether it’s at the base of a pyramid — helping get the best out of a teammate, or focusing on a common goal, like a state or perhaps a national title.

“I’m really lucky. I have a great team,” Haddad said. “They have great attitudes, they’re great students. The overall package. And that’s really what I look for. You can’t be a good cheerleader here if you’re not a good student. You have to have both.”

Published March 11, 2015

LOL girls’ basketball repeats as regional champs

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When the Land O’ Lakes High School girls’ basketball team reached the state semifinal last year, it might have looked like a bit of good fortune. They hadn’t approached that level of success during coach Phyllis Crain’s tenure, so it seemed to come out of nowhere. People could have wondered if it was a fluke or a lucky run.

Nobody is wondering that anymore.

Jhade Hayes was a big part of the Gators' success as a senior, but now they'll have to find a way to replace her talent on the court. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Jhade Hayes was a big part of the Gators’ success as a senior, but now they’ll have to find a way to replace her talent on the court.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

The Gators followed up last year’s tournament berth with another one just like it: For the second straight year, they won their region and reached the state semifinals.

And while, like last year, the team’s season ended before the state title game, the team and coach are very proud of their accomplishments.

“I’m very happy about that (making it back to the state tournament),” said Crain, who just completed her fourth season as coach. “It’s an accomplishment for the girls. They wanted to see that they could do it.”

They did it with a 28-4 record, even better than last year’s 24-5 mark. They also did it with more success along the way. Last season, Land O ‘ Lakes was district runner-up before winning its region. This season the team claimed district and conference championships on its way to another regional title.

The end of the season, however, was not a high point.

In fact, the Gators were overwhelmed last month in a 56-13 semifinal defeat to Paxon.

The margin of defeat reflected a combination of playing a great team, while the Gators were not performing well, Crain said.

The Golden Eagles, from Jacksonville, started out strong, and the game got away from the Gators before halftime.

Despite the loss, the team showed an ability to overcome adversity during the playoffs. They built leads, lost them and came back from behind to win games throughout their run. They found a way to win by pulling together and working together as a unit, a trait the coach said was their strongest quality this season.

“It’s a team game. We win and lose and play as a team,” Crain said.

They’ll do the same next year, though the team will look a little different. This year’s roster had seven seniors, including two starters, who will need to be replaced.

Departing players include standout player Jhade Hayes.

Coach Crain will rely on returning players such as Gabby Mills and Mikala Canada to pick up the slack.

“We’re losing a big part of us with Jhade, but Mikala’s coming back, and she’s going to be our floor leader next year,” Crain said.

Canada is ready to be that leader. While she has the talent to score, the point guard enjoys finding holes in the defense and getting the ball to the teammate who has the best chance to put points on the board. She’s fine with other players getting the points, if it achieves the team’s goals.

“I like to bring the ball down the court, and get my other teammates to score,” Canada said. “My coach calls me the quarterback of the team. I’ve got to make everybody else look good.”

While she’ll help the new starters look good, Canada said it’s up to the returning team members to show them how to fit in.

The Gators have been good at utilizing each other’s strengths and compensating for weaknesses, and while Canada’s ready to score a little more when required, she’ll still look to pass the ball to the most-open player.

But that’s next season.

For now, Canada is able to look back on what the team accomplished with pride and a sense of satisfaction that for the second straight year, they were one of the last teams standing.

“We had a really good season,” she said.

“In Pasco County, not a lot of teams go to state. So when we did it the second time in a row, it’s a big accomplishment,” Canada said.

Crain also feels that same pride, but it’s not for herself.

Even though the coach has built a strong program, she’s more focused on the experience for her players, many who will be playing in their last organized basketball league.

“It’s for the girls. It’s not about me,” Crain said. “I just love to see them, because this might be the only time they’re going to play basketball.”

Published March 11, 2015

Crabby Floyd: A hard worker with a quick wit

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“God needed another crabber, so he called out for Crabby Floyd.”

So reads the first sentence of “Crabby” Floyd DeForest’s obituary, published on the website of Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’ Lakes.

‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics. (Courtesy of Loyless Funeral Home)
‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics.
(Courtesy of Loyless Funeral Home)

DeForest, 63 of Lutz, died Feb. 20, after a battle with cancer.

He was a commercial fisherman, but after the net bans went into effect, he became a crabber, said Richard Ortiz, a long-time friend of DeForest.

“He was such a vibrant man,” Ortiz said.

“He’s the first person I met when I moved up here,” said Ortiz, who has lived in the area for about 20 years.

“As soon as I moved into the house, he came over and introduced himself, and we remained friends from that day on,” Ortiz said.

DeForest used to refer to himself as “a round man,” Ortiz added. “He’d say, ‘This little round man can move.’ ”

That was true, Ortiz continued.

“If I had to sit down and pick the hardest working person I’ve known, it would have to be Floyd,” Ortiz said.

When Ortiz went out in the morning to pick up his newspaper, he’d see DeForest pulling out of the driveway with his truck and his boat.

“I’d see him leaving before sun up, and I’d see him coming (home) after sundown. It’d be cold out. It’d be hot out. It’d be bad weather. If he could go, he’d go.

“For all of the time I ever knew that man, I can say that I never, ever, ever heard him complain about his job,” Ortiz said.

“He enjoyed life,” said Lorraine DeForest, Crabby Floyd’s wife of 42 years. “He always considered himself so fortunate because he worked at a job that he loved.”

DeForest was widely known as a crabber.

“Everybody knew what he did,” Ortiz said. “People would come up and knock on his door and ask for crab.”

Often, DeForest would stop and chat with Ortiz, as he headed out to work or on his way home.

“He was a very outgoing, jovial guy. He always had a joke for you,” Ortiz said. “He was very quick-witted. Very bright, too. He stayed up on politics.”

DeForest had plenty of opinions and was always ready to share them.

“You knew where Floyd stood,” Ortiz said.

He also was involved in the community.

He was on the boards for both Land O’ Lakes Police Athletic League football and the Land O’ Lakes Little League and volunteered for the Land O’ Lakes High School Girls’ Softball team.

“We became friends when we coached football together,” said Cary Williams, noting that was 22 years ago.

The men and their families became close, sharing holidays together.

Williams and DeForest used to fish and hunt together, too.

DeForest was the kind of person who would go out in the middle of the night to help someone who was out on the water having boat problems, Williams said.

“He was the type of guy you could count on,” Williams said.

“He was a very conservative man,” Williams added, and he was politically involved.

“He would take the time to call state, federal and local politicians and them his opinion,” Williams said.

Chris Carollo, who owns Shadow Solutions Firearms in Lutz, said DeForest used to come hang out at his gun shop to shoot the breeze with other patrons.

“He loved to tell old stories,” Carollo said.

He also was very helpful.

In fact, when Carollo was getting ready to open his business, DeForest pitched in to help paint the walls.

Friends honored DeForest in posts in an electronic guestbook created by Loyless Funeral Home. They praised DeForest’s work ethic, his devotion to family and his coaching.

One post also mentions his contribution to providing “tasty memories” for thousands of families.

Besides his wife, Lorraine, DeForest is survived by his son, Floyd R.; his daughter, Candace; his mother, Elba; his brother, Rick and his wife, Loretta; nephews, a great niece and other family members and friends.

Ortiz said DeForest is the kind of man who deserved to be remembered.

“There are people out there that do things every day, and they don’t go out looking for credit, and they don’t go looking for accolades. That’s just them. That’s the kind of guy that Floyd was,” Ortiz said.

“I’m going to miss him terribly. I already miss seeing him,” Ortiz said.

Memorial service for Floyd DeForest
7 p.m., March 5 at Loyless Funeral Home, 5310 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Floyd DeForest’s memory to Gulfside Hospice

Published March 4, 2015

Coach Kris Keppel exhibits grace to the end

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The impact that Joel “Kris” Kristan Keppel’s life had on those who knew him was exhibited in all sorts of ways last week in Land O’ Lakes.

Keppel, a revered cross-country coach at Land O’ Lakes High, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Jan. 25.

Coach Kris Keppel was known for motivating athletes to push for excellence, while also being a mentor to help them with other issues in life. (File Photo)
Coach Kris Keppel was known for motivating athletes to push for excellence, while also being a mentor to help them with other issues in life.
(File Photo)

Land O’Lakes High Principal Ric Mellin notified the school’s staff and students with this recorded message:

“It is with a heavy heart that I am calling this evening to inform everyone of the passing of Kris Keppel. I was informed that he passed at 4:32 p.m., this afternoon, while in hospice care.  Kris Keppel spent more than two decades as the coach of the Land O’ Lakes High cross-country team, as the school’s media specialist, and as a teacher.

“Mr. Keppel was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over a year ago. Despite the exhausting treatments, he continued to be a member of our staff and attend as many cross-country practices and meets as he could up until his retirement this past fall. He is survived by daughters Meredith and Morgan, and wife Dar.”

Keppel’s coaching skills were widely known. He coached the boys’ cross-country team to Sunshine Athletic Conference championships in 1986, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014; and District and Regional championships in 2013.

He also was nominated and became a finalist in the Brooks Running Most Inspirational Coaches of the Year competition.

But Keppel’s influence went far beyond helping athletes reach their potential, students, who were coached by Keppel, said in videotapes recorded by the school district after Keppel’s death.

He was more than a coach, they said.

“He was a friend and a mentor,” said Maddie Toth, who ran for him. “You could go to him for anything — from boy trouble to grades.”

After a moment of silence to honor Keppel, which can now be viewed on a YouTube video, Assistant Principal Jeff Morganstein described a man who was “sort of a fixture in our building for over 20 years.”

Keppel was involved and he made a difference, Morganstein said. “These students really are his legacy.”

Members of the Land O’ Lakes cross-country team honored the coach by covering the school marquee with purple construction paper — symbolizing the continuing fight against pancreatic cancer.

They wrote messages on yellow ’Gators, representing the school’s mascot, and posted them on the marquee.

One simple message seemed to convey the collective mood: “I’m going to miss you,” it says.

Hundreds turned out to pay their respects to the coach at his funeral Jan. 31 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes.

The Rev. Ron Aubin presided over the Mass, joined by other priests on the altar.

Aubin spoke of Keppel as a dedicated servant of the church, and as a man he’s known for 21 years.

At the conclusion of the funeral Mass, the Rev. Lynn Nichols — a friend and neighbor of the Keppel family­— delivered a eulogy.

He began at the beginning, describing the man who was born on June 6, 1961 in Indianapolis, Indiana as the youngest son of the Rev. John and Mildred Keppel.

He noted that Keppel was very close to his mother, who was a high school medial specialist — a career path that Keppel would also follow.

He told those gathered that Keppel met his wife, Darlene, on a blind date on Feb. 29, 1984 —forever changing his life.

They went on to have two daughters, Meredith and Morgan.

“Dar said he was a hands-on dad. He’d get up with them (the girls) in the morning and feed them, get them dressed and take them to school. They rode with him to school their entire lives,” Nichols said.

“He believed talk is cheap,” Nichols added.

When the Keppels were married, Darlene was Catholic and he was not. But he told the priest they would raise their children as Catholics and they did, and he later converted to the faith.

“His coaching was how he changed the world,” said Nichols, whose sons ran for Keppel.

“It was his ministry. He built a great team and a legacy at Land O’ Lakes. He used the discipline of cross-country — its training and perseverance and focus — to give direction and aid to kids.

“He went beyond coaching. He provided transportation, bought shoes, provided tutoring, counseled kids through difficult family times, helped them get into college, gave dating advice and shared his faith with them.

“He was also committed to his community,” Nichols added.

He was involved in Rotary and was the Interact sponsor at Land O’ Lakes High for more than a decade. He also took part in events helping Metropolitan Ministries, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots and the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

He was an active member of the LifeTeen Band for Our Lady of the Rosary Church for 15 years.

When Keppel asked Nichols to do his eulogy, he wrote a few words that he asked Nichols to share.

“When you find that cancer is a part of your life,” Keppel wrote, “you have the benefit of saying goodbye to friends and family members.

“You get to share special moments …”

“Kris knew he wouldn’t be here for many of Meredith and Morgan’s big days,” Nichols said. So, earlier in the year, he recorded two songs to be played at their weddings.

“One was the song he sung to Darlene at their wedding,” Nichols said.

Published February 4, 2015

 

Big competition: Students prep livestock for fair judging

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Land O’ Lakes High School has nice football and baseball fields. But if you go past them, you might see something unusual.

Like a barn with livestock, and students training them.

Stephanie Dahm, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, works with Dixie, a 700-pound heifer at the school’s barn. Dahm and Dixie will compete at the Florida State Fair and Pasco County Fair. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Stephanie Dahm, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, works with Dixie, a 700-pound heifer at the school’s barn. Dahm and Dixie will compete at the Florida State Fair and Pasco County Fair.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“People think we’re crazy,” said sophomore Augusta Browder. “They think we’re just out there rolling around with them (the animals). They don’t think we’re being serious about it.”

But they’re not being crazy; they’re being competitive. The school’s members of Future Farmers of America, now known as the National FFA Organization, are prepping their livestock to be judged along with other animals at the Florida State Fair and Pasco County Fair next month and other competitions throughout the year.

Some of the animals stay on school property. Other students own their animals and have homes that can maintain them, so they live on their land.

But wherever they stay, caring for them is hard work.

Browder gets up around 5:30 a.m., every morning, to feed her animals at her home, and does it again at the end of the evening. She can’t take extended time off, and she also has to practice with them so they’ll perform well when the time comes to be judged in categories such as appearance and showmanship. She’ll show a heifer and a steer this year, and she has a bull named Buster that she’s already planning to show next year.

Actually showing them only comes after getting the animals, caring for them and learning their behaviors and traits. The students often are showing large animals that are several times their weight, so developing a strong relationship is important.

“It’s spending time with them. If you don’t spend time with them, they’re not going to do what you want,” said Stephanie Dahm, who’s showing a 700-pound heifer named Dixie at the Florida State Fair and Pasco County Fair.

While Dahm said that Dixie is a calm heifer with a good demeanor, she still has to spend a lot of time with her. That means at least an hour or two each day during the week and then more time on the weekend.

Dahm has shown animals before, and had a Florida White rabbit that won Best of Breed at the Florida State Fair and the Pasco County Fair last year.

The jump to livestock is good practice for her; she plans to study livestock management and ranch management when she goes to college.

Browder, who wants to be a large animal veterinarian, also has a lot of experience raising and showing animals. And while she wants to win when she competes, it’s the experience and the friendships that make it worthwhile.

“I actually met one of my best friends at the Pasco County Fair two years ago,” she said. “We all realize that we’re doing this for responsibility, for leadership, to do something,” she added.

In order to do something special with their four-legged partners, they have to practice quite a bit. On many afternoons, FFA members will be out with their livestock, going through movements and practicing techniques. Even if some people at the school don’t even know they’re out there.

A lot of people at our school, when I say we have a barn, they’re like ‘We have a barn?’ Not many people know about this,” Browder said.

But for around 30 members of the school’s FFA program, it’s an important part of their high school experience. They learn how to handle different animals, they learn time management skills, and they get to spend time with both schoolmates and show partners.

“I love being out there with my friends, and I love being out there in the ring. Some people do sports, and I do cows,” Browder said. “I love it.”

Dahm agrees.

“There’s something about cows,” she said.

Published January 28, 2015

Court presence: Land O’ Lakes basketball preps another playoff run

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When the Land O’ Lakes girls’ basketball team bowed out of the Class 5A playoffs last year, they had many reasons to be proud. The Gators were beaten in the state semifinals by eventual-champion Southeast High School from Bradenton, and they completed their third-straight winning season under coach Phyllis Crain. Since they had gone farther than any girls’ basketball team in school history, students and fans might wonder if they could repeat that success and possibly claim a state title this year.

Land O' Lakes coach Phyllis Crain has guided the girls’ basketball team to another season with more than 20 wins. Now she'll try to guide them back to the state tournament, where they reached the semifinals last season. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Land O’ Lakes coach Phyllis Crain has guided the girls’ basketball team to another season with more than 20 wins. Now she’ll try to guide them back to the state tournament, where they reached the semifinals last season.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

But with the playoffs starting, the coach isn’t focused on anything but the next opponent.

“We don’t look any further than we have to. We look at one game at a time, and we take it from there,” Crain said. “If you overlook an opponent, they can sneak up behind you.”

Very few teams have snuck up on Land O’ Lakes this season. They finished their regular season campaign with just three losses, fewer than last year. They ran the table in Class 5A-8 with a perfect 14-0 record. And according to Crain, they enter the postseason with even more confidence after last season’s accomplishments.

While senior Jhade Hayes has paced the team as both leading scorer and rebounder, the coach believes it’s the other players doing their jobs and playing important roles that allow skilled players like Hayes to shine, and the team to succeed in each game.

“It’s teamwork, not an individual that’s going to win the championship. They really believe in each other,” she said.

The school has good reason to believe in Crain, who has built a strong program in her four seasons at the helm. After nine seasons as an assistant at the University of Tampa, she came to Land O’ Lakes High School wanting to create a team that consistently has both experienced players and younger talent who can contribute and take on leadership roles later in their careers. This season’s team has a good mix of returning starters and reserves (the starting five consists of three seniors and two juniors), as well as newer players who are looking to help continue the team’s forward progress.

As a result, Crain believes the team is at least as good as the one that was one step away from the state championship game.

“I would say as good, and maybe a little bit better,” Crain said. “We have a little bit more rebounding presence inside.” A lot of that increased presence can be attributed to junior Gabby Mills, which makes the team more dangerous when she’s on the court. But as they head to the playoffs, the coach wants to see better team rebounding and tighter defensive play from the Gators.

While Crain has created a perennial contender in just a few short years, it’s not her only goal when it comes to coaching. She’s aware that many of her players might not continue their basketball careers in college, so she wants them to get the most out of their high school experience.

“I went into it thinking that I really want to teach these girls the game of basketball, and I really want to teach them some life lessons, too,” Crain said. “Don’t get me wrong. We all want to win. But I really think it’s an experience.” The coach follows their academic progress and believes that learning lessons like not being late to practice, working hard and believing in yourself will help them off the court.

But the team is performing well on the court, too. Another season with more than 20 wins is already secured, and another playoff berth is looming. And while Crain believes the team has the ability to make another deep run, she doesn’t want players to think about anything but the hard work that got them this far, and about the next opponent they face.

“We want to win the district championship. We want to get back to Lakeland (where the state championships will be held). That’s our main focus,” she said “But to do that, we need to focus on the little things and take it game by game,” she said.

Published January 28, 2015