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Land O' Lakes High School

State title winners head off to regionals

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In his 15 years of coaching Land O’ Lakes Little League, Daniel Broderick can’t recall the last time one of its youth baseball teams won a state title.

“I’ve been coaching a long time, and I’ve never been a state champion,” Broderick said, during a recent interview.

The last time a Land O’ Lakes Little League baseball team won a state championship was in 2002, league officials say.

Earlier this month, Land O’ Lakes claimed the 2019 Little League Baseball Senior League Florida State Championships in Bradenton by besting seven other teams from all across the state.

The Land O’ Lakes Little League senior division all-star team recently won a state title in Bradenton. The group of 14- to 16-year-olds has now advanced to the Little League southeast regionals in Safety Harbor. (File)

They defeated Jacksonville San Mateo Little League 12-3 in the state championship game.

Before advancing to and winning states, the team of 14- to 16-year-olds mowed through districts and sectional tournaments held in Tampa, Land O’ Lakes and Plant City, respectively.

“This is a big deal for ’em here,” said Broderick, who manages the team. “For me, you can never take a state title away from them (the players). It means something. It’s a big deal for them, and I think they’re embracing it pretty well.”

The all-star players echo those spirits. Especially since Land O’ Lakes qualified for the state tournament the past two years, but came up short each time.

The manager’s son, Dylan Broderick, is a 16-year-old pitcher on the team.

Winning states — and therefore entering Land O’ Lakes Little League lore — was “like a dream come true” for the player, who also plays for Sunlake High School’s baseball team.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I’ve been playing since I was 4 years old and, up until now, we’ve never won states, and the dream of just winning states and moving on is amazing, and for us to actually do it and we faced a hard team.”

The state title run didn’t come without challenges.

Playing in round robin, double elimination formats, Land O’ Lakes lost initial games in sectionals and states, forcing them to play from behind and win multiple games in same days to claim the respective tournaments. They went 7-2 in all three tournaments combined, outscoring opponents by a 57-27 margin.

“We took a hard road,” the team’s manager said. “We had to dig for it, which made it better. Nothing was easy. There’s no easy teams, so it was good competition, which is going to help us going forward. There were no gimmes.”

He added: “It was emotional. Just the way we did it, and the group of parents and kids that we had, made it better. …Our guys and our team just maintained composure.”

Land O’ Lakes now has advanced to the Little League Southeast Regional in Safety Harbor. The tournament runs through July 24 and features all-star squads from six other states — Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The regional winner then advances to the 2019 Senior League Baseball World Series in Easley, South Carolina.

“You’re coming from a very good baseball state, so we’ve got a shot,” the manager said. “You always have a shot.”

About half of the senior all-star team plays high school baseball, including players at Land O’ Lakes High, Sunlake High and Cypress Creek Middle High.

They pride themselves on being a scrappy bunch that relies on pitching depth, sound defense and situational hitting.

“Everybody can play. We just have a bunch of studs,” Dylan Broderick said, adding the team can “make the plays that need to be done.”

Beyond that is the all-star squad’s intangibles and its ability to gel as a group.

“I feel like we have a good group of kids, good attitude, good effort, and that’s the best thing you can ask of anybody,” Dylan Broderick said.

“Everyone just likes each other,” said first baseman Cade Knouse. “Even if you go 0-for-4 in a game, there’s always people there to support you. A lot of it’s just the chemistry, with the team and parents.”

“We just bonded well together, not that we didn’t in past years, but this year just worked a little differently,” added 16-year-old catcher Nick Ketterer, who’s wrapping up his third season on the senior all-star team. “I think just getting to states the last two years just made us more hungry to get further.”

Ketterer also pointed out this year’s on-field success has brought the team even closer.

“When we won districts and we won sectionals, those were confidence boosters. We come together more, we get to play more together,” he said.

As for regionals, the group is poised for a strong, deep showing, and maybe more.

“A lot of it’s just keep doing what we’re doing,” Knouse said. “We’ve definitely got to get the bats alive as we keep moving on because offense wins games.

“We’re definitely the kind of people to capitalize off errors and mistakes, and put the ball in play when needed to.”

However it ends, the all-stars will cherish each moment, as for many it will be their last season playing Little League. (The cutoff age for Little League is 16 years old.)

“I don’t want this thing to end, because I love Little League,” 16-year-old pitcher/first baseman Hayden Woods said. “If it would go up to 30 (years old), I would probably go up to 30.”

Land O’ Lakes Little League Senior All-Stars

Manager: Daniel Broderick
Assistant coaches: Mark Folkman, Patrick Cummings, Julie Ketterer

  • Aidan Santana
  • Alex LaVare
  • Cade Knouse
  • Connor Kurrack
  • Damian Lampe
  • Devin Canter
  • Dylan Broderick
  • Francis Rodriguez
  • Hayden Woods
  • Logan Larscheid
  • Luis Nunez
  • Max Folkman
  • Nick Ketterer
  • Nicolas Hauth
  • Kennen Ayala
  • T.J. Whales

Published July 24, 2019

Pasco embarks on new type of high school

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The Pasco County school district is planning a new magnet high school that doesn’t fit the traditional mold.

It will combine a rigorous curriculum along with technical skills training — and will seek community partnerships to give students real-world experiences, said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

Coming up with a name for the school is a little bit tricky, Gadd said.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, talks about a new high school the district plans to open in 2022 that will combine opportunities for mastering academics and technical skills. (B.C. Manion)

The idea is to prepare students to have many options when they leave high school — whether, say, they want to work as a welder for someone else; or, they want to have their own welding business.

While the district invites public suggestions to help it come up with a name for the school, it is proceeding with the school’s design.

The magnet school will be built at Curley and Keifer roads, in Wesley Chapel, on the former Kirkland Ranch property. The school is being built to accommodate 900 students, but is designed for expansion, if there’s a larger demand.

Students are expected to come primarily come from Zephyrhills, Wiregrass Ranch, Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel and Pasco high schools, but also might come from as far away as Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes high schools.

The planned opening date is fall of 2022, and the school may begin operations with just a freshman class, or perhaps freshman and sophomore classes, Gadd said.

The district wants to give the school some time to develop its own community and to build its brand, he explained.

As time goes on, the school wants to become increasingly involved in the community and for the community to be increasingly involved in the school, the deputy superintendent said.

For instance, the district also has begun having conversations with people who have various types of expertise.

Sometimes those conversations may yield helpful suggestions for refining the curriculum; other times, they may lead to partnerships that support programs, or provide real-world opportunities for students, Gadd said.

The leadership at this school will likely be different, too. Rather than a principal and assistant principal, it’s likely to have leaders who spend part of their time on campus and part of their time out in the community, he said.

The interactions that can result can yield many new opportunities, he explained.

Program plans for the school include academies for business, finance and marketing; digital technology; engineering technology; health science and human services; transportation technology; and, building technology. The school will serve grades nine through 12, and will offer industry certification in high-demand career fields.

There also will be post-secondary education programs offered after-hours, Gadd said.

The deputy superintendent said the new school will be a departure from tradition, but he said he thinks that is what parents want for their children.

“I’m a big advocate in not building the same old high schools, the same old middle schools and the same old elementary schools. I’d like to see that campus someday represent the market, so to speak.

“Parents are asking us for something other than the traditional cookie-cutter school,” he said.

Have an idea for this school’s name?
Pasco County School Board policy encourages community members, educators and students to provide suggestions for school names. The board has the final say. Suggested names should be accompanied by a brief explanation. Email submissions to , with the subject line “school name,” or fax them to (813) 794-2716.

Understanding Gen Z*

  • Have never known a non-digital world
  • Make up 32 percent of the 7.7 billion global population
  • Use Smartphones 15.4 hours a week
  • Respond best to short, visual marketing strategies

Understanding the job market

  • 47 percent of current middle-class jobs in the United States are at risk of being replaced by automation over the next 20 years
  • 85 percent of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not yet been invented

Sharing the school’s goals

  • Prepare students for success
  • Enhance the high school experience
  • Inspire innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Simulate real-world experiences
  • Foster mentorship and community connections

*Gen Z are those born in 1995 or later

Source: HepnerArchitects/CanonDesign

Published July 24, 2019

Pine View Elementary becomes Primary Years program

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Pine View Elementary School has received its official authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

The school, at 5333 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, has been working for three years toward attaining the authorization. It is the first public school in Pasco County to achieve the distinction.

Pine View Elementary Principal Kay Moore is delighted that her Land O’ Lakes school has achieved its official authorization to offer an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. Pine View Elementary is only one of 504 schools in the United States authorized to offer the IB PYP, which uses an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. (B.C. Manion)

As of May 1, there were 1,716 schools offering the IB PYP, in 109 different countries worldwide, according to the IB Organization’s website. In the United States, there are 504 public schools offering the IB PYP.

Pine View Middle School already is operating as an IB Middle Years Programme, and Land O’ Lakes High School offers the IB Diploma Programme, as well as a pre-IB programme for ninth-graders.

Pine View Elementary Principal Kay Moore said being a PYP candidate school has been a journey.

“One of the requirements to be authorized is that 100 percent of your staff has to go through International Baccalaureate training. So, we spent a lot of time and resources to train teachers,” Moore said.

Initially, the elementary school was looking for a way to provide a choice option for parents.

“We had declining enrollment over the past few years,” Moore explained, noting that Pine View was losing students to Sanders Memorial Elementary, a STEAM Magnet School, and charter schools, such as Imagine School and Classical Prep.

“We wanted to offer choice, and IB seemed to be a natural fit because of the middle school and the high school,” Moore said. “It completed a feeder pattern.”

While Pine View’s motivation was to be competitive, the experience has been illuminating for everyone involved, Moore said.

“We learned that this is a teaching style that’s good for kids,” Moore said.

It also “was a great growth opportunity for our staff,” she added, noting that as teachers became more familiar with the PYP, they embraced it.

Their attitude was: “This is the kind of teaching and learning we want for children.’

These attributes, painted on wooden boards beneath a covered walkway at Pine View Elementary, are qualities that prepare IB students to make exceptional contributions on campus.

“It was, ‘Wow, this is just good teaching’,” the principal said.

“So our staff buy-in was 100 percent because of that,” the principal said.

Moore credits Erin Greco, the school’s IB coordinator, as playing a pivotal role in the school’s transition to becoming a PYP.

She described Greco as being a catalyst.

“She’s been going through extensive training and studying, and is very self-motivated,” Moore said.

Teachers are pleased to be able to offer this educational approach, she added.

“One of the teachers got up at a parent meeting and said, ‘Just think, we’re going to offer your child IB, without the expense of IB,” Moore said.

Parents are enthused by the program, too.

“The IB team came in and interviewed the parent groups. They said that is our strength. Our parent support is truly our strength.

“I think a lot of them recognize that this is something special, that their children and they get to be involved with,” Moore said.

Besides achieving the PYP designation, Pine View is also a magnet school now.

Students within the school’s normal boundaries are automatically in, but others living outside the boundaries can apply to fill vacant spots. The vacancies are filled through a lottery.

When parents inquire about the program, they often have questions about the curriculum, Moore said.

“The curriculum is not different. We still do the state standards. The difference is we teach in an interdisciplinary fashion, where we integrate reading, writing, science, social studies — with a focus on connecting kids globally,” she said.

“Delivery is different because we try to do it on an inquiry basis, so that kids have choice and voice. When they do have choice and voice, they own it. We encourage them to go beyond the lessons that teachers may give and do their own inquiry,” she said.

There’s also more hands-on learning, Moore added.

The students aren’t the only ones learning in a new way, the principal added.

The teachers also are true IB learners, Moore said. “They’re inquiring, ‘How can I make it better? What can I read, what can I study — to make this experience better for kids?’”

And, they aren’t the only ones who are welcoming opportunities for new growth.

Moore, an educator for 38 years, said she feels invigorated.

“We are definitely not at the end of this journey. Every year, we are going to refine and make things better.

“The world is a lot smaller now, because of all the connections.

“This allows us to have that global perspective and really help children see and accept differences, and tolerate — and yet be discriminators of their own learning. That’s what excites me,” Moore said.

For more information, contact Pine View Elementary at (352) 524-0600.

What is the Primary Years Programme?
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework for young learners aged 3–12 designed by the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Founded on a philosophy that recognizes a child’s natural curiosity, creativity and ability to reflect, the PYP generates a stimulating, challenging learning environment to nurture those assets and foster a lifelong love of learning in every child.

The PYP, like all IB programmes, is transdisciplinary, meaning students learn across subject areas, while investigating big ideas.

Does the PYP have a specific set of standards?
In the PYP, students learn about significant concepts through units of inquiry.

The six transdisciplinary themes that guide units of inquiry and compose a year of study are:

  • Who we are
  • Where we are in place and time
  • How we express ourselves
  • How the world works
  • How we organize ourselves
  • Sharing the planet

Units of inquiry interweave subject areas, such as mathematics, language arts, science and social studies.

This approach encourages students to make their own connections between what they learn in core subject areas and how it relates to the world around them.

Source: International Baccalaureate website

Published July 03, 2019

Lexi Kilfoyl named Florida’s best — again

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One of area’s most dominant softball players ever has again proved she’s tops in the entire Sunshine State.

Academy at the Lakes (AATL) senior pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl has been named 2019 Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year, given to the state’s best softball player, regardless of classification.

Academy at the Lakes senior Lexi Kilfoyl repeated as Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year. (File)

When it comes to receiving the notable distinction, the Wildcats star is on familiar ground.

The 6-foot-2 right-handed ace and first base slugger won the award last year, too, making her just the third two-time winner from the state, joining Dunnellon’s Kasey Fagan (2009-10) and Spruce Creek’s Kelsi Dunne (2006-07). Kilfoyl is the only Pasco County softball player to have ever won the award.

The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 “to recognize the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.”

The program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross-country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one national player of the year in each sport.

The honor is surely deserved for Kilfoyl, who’s set to join the University of Alabama softball program on scholarship this fall.

Equipped with a powerful arm and bat, Kilfoyl buoyed Academy at the Lakes to a 19-7 mark and its second straight FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) Class 2A state title last month in Vero Beach.

In the May 21 state championship game — an 11-0 shutout over Mount Dora Christian Academy — Kilfoyl fired a six-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the circle, and drove in two runs and scored another on two hits at the plate.

Kilfoyl also pitched a one-hit, nine strikeout complete game shutout in the Class 2A semifinals win over Palatka Penel Baptist Academy, while adding in four runs on two hits of her own.

The state finals were a microcosm of sorts for Kilfoyl’s senior campaign and her entire Wildcats career, for that matter.

She registered a 14-1 record with a 0.48 ERA, striking out 134 batters in 72.2 innings pitched, while allowing just 15 hits in 2019. She also produced the best hitting season of her varsity career, posting a .563 batting average with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs, compiling a .653 on-base percentage and a 1.188 slugging percentage.

Making it all the more impressive: Kilfoyl did it all while nursing a trapezius strain, which forced her to abstain from pitching for about a month in the middle of the season.

Because of that, Kilfoyl actually wasn’t expecting to repeat as state player of the year.

“It definitely was kind of a shocker,” Kilfoyl said, “because my pitching stats weren’t the greatest compared to other pitchers that had that month to get their stats up that much more, so I definitely was very surprised and it almost felt very relieving to know that missing one month can’t kill you.”

What Kilfoyl may have lacked in total innings pitched, she more than made up for with the bat, notching career highs in virtually every statistical category.

The month of pitching missed allowed her to better fine-tune her approach at the plate, she said.

“I think because hitting was mainly the only thing I could do, that was my main focus, and I think definitely had something to do with it,” Kilfoyl said, of her batting numbers.

The 2019 season puts a bow on what’s been a lengthy varsity career at AATL, one that began when Kilfoyl was in the seventh grade.

In her previous five seasons combined, Kilfoyl had a 76-15 record, with a 1.13 earned run average and 842 strikeouts across 571.1 innings pitched. She also generated a .466 batting average with 17 home runs, 38 extra base hits and 129 RBIs in 104 games.

For most of her career, Kilfoyl has been widely regarded as one of the nation’s top prep pitchers and college prospects, being named the No. 5 recruit overall in the Class of 2019 by Softball America.

Kilfoyl and Land O’ Lakes High School senior pitcher Callie Turner are among just 20 athletes nationwide who’ve been selection to the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team. Kilfoyl also made the junior national squad back in 2017, then the team’s youngest member as a 16-year-old sophomore.

Reflecting on her prep career, Kilfoyl said: “I feel like I did accomplish everything that was possible. I definitely feel like I’ve done everything that I could, and couldn’t have done it any other way, no better way to end it.”

And, helping the AATL softball program win its first state title last year goes down as her all-time favorite moment. It was an 11-inning, rain-soaked pitcher’s duel in which the Wildcats defeated Monticello Aucilla Christian 1-0.

“Winning states last year was the most memorable,” Kilfoyl said. “The game was such neck-and-neck, and we didn’t know if we were going to win.”

Kilfoyl, who also was a standout volleyball and basketball at AATL, isn’t the only high-profile athlete in her family, remarkably.

Her older brother, Darin, is a 6-foot-8 right-handed pitcher at Division I University of North Florida. He previously starred on the baseball diamond at AATL and St. Johns River State College. Their younger brother, Andrew, is a rising junior offensive lineman at Gaither High School, who is already garnering Division I interest as a 6-foot-5, 275-pound left tackle. Andrew transferred to Gaither after earning All-State honors in the eight-man football ranks at AATL each of the last two seasons.

Kilfoyl said the family regularly works out together, challenging one another for athletics accomplishments.

“We definitely push each other,” Kilfoyl said, “but then there is also kind of a little bit of competitive side to us, like, ‘Oh I did this better than you,’ just how like siblings are.”

Lexi Kilfoyl – 2019 stats

Pitching: 72.2 innings pitched, 12-1 record, 0.48 ERA, 134 strikeouts, 15 walks, .061 batting average against, .122 on-base percentage against

Batting: .562 batting average, 12 home runs, 12 doubles, 37 RBI, 21 runs, 45 hits, .653 on-base percentage, 1.187 slugging percentage

Published June 19, 2019

Pasco County honors its 2019 graduates

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As graduates stepped across the stage at the University of South Florida’s Yuengling Center to accept their diplomas — the crowd erupted with cheers and applause.

That’s not an atypical reaction at graduation ceremonies, but this one was particularly special.

The Class of 2019 at Cypress Creek Middle High School made history on June 5, by becoming the first crop of graduates from the Wesley Chapel high school.

Lucas Budd, class valedictorian, addresses his peers, during the Graduate-to-Graduate Message portion of the program. (Christine Holtzman)

They were among thousands of seniors marking the traditional rite of passage, in graduation ceremonies large and small across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Many of those graduation ceremonies took place at USF’s Yuengling Center, but some were held in smaller, more intimate settings.

The Cypress Creek seniors wore gowns donned with green and yellow — representing their school colors.

These graduates have been leaders at the school since it opened in the Fall of 2017, without a senior class.

“Every graduating class is special, but these guys and girls are incredibly near and dear to our hearts,” said Cypress Creek Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles. “They’ve literally built the foundation for this school.”

The graduating class is comprised of 225 students, included six pairs of twins.

Many Cypress Creek graduates have been accepted already to colleges, such as  Saint Leo University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida and scores of others.

“I’ve been accepted into USF since September (2018),” said Cypress Creek graduate Hayley McManus.

She’s considering a major in engineering or psychology.

Graduation marks an end, and a beginning
Thousands of students across the region are leaving a familiar place — whether it was a sprawling college campus, a small private school, or a large high school — to start a new journey in life.

The thought of receiving her diploma was a lot to take in, for McManus, an 18-year-old from Cypress Creek.

Lisa McMahon, a speech therapist at Cypress Creek High School, straightens the cap of graduate Matthew Montesant, before festivities begin.

“It’s kind of surreal,” she said. “I had hopes that I would graduate, but I never thought about how being the inaugural class would feel. I feel kind of special that I’m setting the precedent.”

Sam Mazzeo had a similar feeling of pride about being Cypress Creek’s first graduating class, and also about helping to set an example for the school’s younger students.

He wants to return to Cypress Creek to help coach football.

Jason Stahlgren, a Florida transplant from Ohio, didn’t arrive at Cypress Creek until his senior year.

But, the warm welcome he received made it a good experience, he said.

“Moving my senior year was tough, but everybody here made it really easy,” said Stahlgren.

When Karisma Brooks initially arrived at Cypress Creek, her only desire was to return to her former high school in Tampa, she recalled.

Over time, though, she adjusted to her new environment and was able to create some memorable moments – especially as a member of the school’s first step team.

“It was a really big impact on us to bring African-American culture to the school,” Brooks said, with a smile.

The 17-year-old is now ready to serve her country as part of the U.S. Air Force, and then plans to seek a degree in health sciences.

Graduates earn diplomas, accolades
Lucas Budd, the Cypress Creek valedictorian, was one of more than 60 Pasco seniors from various high schools to receive an associate’s degree from Pasco-Hernando State College.

During the ceremony, Budd told his fellow students: “Today marks the end of a significant and memorable chapter in our lives. Be proud of this accomplishment, but leave some praise for the people who helped us graduate. We should be thankful for our families who have supported us.”

Lori Vogel was in the crowd to support Ashley Nickisher, a graduate and Vogel’s niece.

“This is a very special moment, and I’m very excited for her,” Vogel said.

A group of Cypress Creek High School graduates pose for a picture with the school’s mascot, Carmine the Coyote, before the graduation ceremony. From left: Derek Attwood, Michae’la Davis, Christian Wilmore (dressed as the mascot), Rebecca Bobik and Jonathan Blake.

In her remarks during the ceremony, Cypress Creek Principal Hetzler-Nettles told the Class of 2019: “You’ve made me so very proud. As you move into life on your own personal journey and to new territory, exploring new things, remember what you’ve accomplished. You’re an integral part of something larger than yourself.”

While Cypress Creek graduates were making history, members of the Class of 2019 across Pasco County had plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Land O’ Lakes High School, with more than 400 graduates, received more than $12 million in scholarship offers.

Zephyrhills High, with an estimated 360 graduates, pulled in more than $750,000 in scholarship offers.

Pasco High School, which issued diplomas to more than 300 students, received more than $1 million in scholarship money.

And, that’s just to mention a few of the accomplishments, among the region’s public schools.

Private schools and area colleges also had plenty of reasons to be proud.

Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes had its graduation ceremony on May 18.

“We had 42 graduates – 100 percent of them going on to college,” said Mark Heller, head of the private school.

Among the schools accepting Academy students are Yale University, Vanderbilt University, University of Florida, University of Washington and the Pratt Institute art school.

“At a school like Academy at the Lakes, relationships are everything,” Heller stated. “Relationships between the teachers and students really are the key to preparing these young adults to be the best they can be.”

Even at the collegiate level, there was much to be celebrated.

Pasco-Hernando State College had two commencement ceremonies at its West Campus in New Port Richey.

Graduate Stephanie Bostick received an associate of arts and associate of science degree in legal assisting. Tracy Meshey persevered with a brain injury to earn her associate of science degree, and Maria Madeiros received her associate of arts degree after relocating from her native Brazil and learning to speak English.

Saint Leo University awarded more than 1,250 degrees.

The university’s valedictorian was Angela Lazzaro, a psychology major. Its salutatorian was Jennifer Fields, a criminal justice major.

Published June 12, 2019

Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame adds members

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The Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation recently added five new members to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame, during a dinner ceremony.

The inductees for the 2019 class were: Stacy Bishop, a record-setting girls soccer player from 1999 to 2003; Jerry Brewster, a state qualifying wrestler and team MVP in 1986; John Childers III, an All-Conference basketball standout in the mid 1980s; Vicky King, longtime varsity girls soccer coach; and Mike McBride, an All-State football player and standout wrestler from 1989 to 1993.

The ceremony marked the school’s seventh Hall of Fame induction class, which began in 2013 after the Gators Athletics Foundation was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Florida Gators All-American receiver Reidel Anthony served as the keynote speaker for the May 16 induction ceremony.

The foundation’s purpose is to “raise funds through donations and fundraising events for the direct benefit of the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes High School.”

The mission of the foundation is to enhance the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes by providing additional funds for facilities, uniforms, transportation and other athletic program needs not covered by traditional school funding.

Here’s a closer look at this year’s inductees:

Stacy Bishop: Female Athlete
Stacy Bishop (Class of ’03) was an All-County and All-District soccer player all four years at Land O’ Lakes, where she registered 192 goals (still a Pasco County record) along with 90 assists. In addition to those accolades, Bishop in 2003 was named Pasco County Athlete of the Year and recognized as an National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic All-American.

Former Land O’ Lakes girls soccer standout Stacy Bishop, left, with her former coach Vicky King at the 2019 Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Courtesy of Michael Williams)

Bishop went on to play Division I collegiate soccer at Louisiana State University and Florida, developing into a first-team All-American and MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist (annually given to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player).

Following her collegiate career, Bishop played professional soccer in the Women’s Professional Soccer league, earning stints with the Boston Breakers and Atlanta Beat franchises, respectively.

Vicky King: Coach/Administrator
Vicky King has been a coach at Land O’ Lakes for 33 years, since she joined the school in the mid-1980s.

In her lengthy career, King has racked up a number of achievements coaching both girls soccer and athletes with special needs.

In varsity girls soccer, King is the longest tenured and winningest coach in Pasco County, with a career record of 509 wins, 198 ties and 75 losses. That includes a state championship in 2003 and four other state semifinals appearances (2004, 2015-2017).

Meanwhile, King in 2015 guided the Land O’ Lakes unified soccer team (which joins athletes with and without disabilities) to represent Team USA at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, which yielded a bronze medal when the team defeated China 2-1. That year she was also named Florida Special Olympics Coach of the Year.

Jerry Brewster: Lifetime Achievement Award
Jerry Brewster (Class of ’86) was a member of both the football and wrestling team at Land O’ Lakes. Among his biggest accomplishments in athletics came on the mat — qualifying for the state wrestling tournament and earning team MVP honors his senior year. He went on to wrestle collegiately for a short time at College of DuPage in Illinois before continuing his education to earn a bachelor’s degree at University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tampa.

Former Land O’ Lakes wrestling standout Jerry Brewster

Upon graduating with his MBA, Brewster has embarked on a career in the wealth management industry, building one the leading wealth management groups in the Tampa Bay area. He was named a 2019 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes Magazine, becoming the only wealth advisor in Pasco County to receive the honor.

Aside from his professional career, Brewster has a maintained presence in the Pasco community.

In recent years, he has served on the board of directors of HCA Regional Medical Center-Bayonet Point, Chasco Fiesta, and Rotary Club of New Port Richey. He also has been the auction chairman of the Rotary Club of New Port Richey’s annual Wild Game Dinner for over a decade.

Brewster was instrumental in helping to establish the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

John Childers III: Lifetime Achievement Award
John Childers III (Class of ’86) played both basketball and baseball at Land O’ Lakes, with some of his biggest achievements coming on the hardwood.

Former Land O’ Lakes basketball and baseball standout John Childers III

In three seasons on the varsity basketball team, Childers III earned team MVP honors and was a second team All-Gulf Coast Conference selection. He went on to receive a full basketball scholarship to Pasco-Hernando Community College where he was a two-year starter.

Professionally, Childers III advanced through the ranks at Chase Bank and eventually started his own mortgage solution company in 2001, JCIII & Associates Inc. The company grew to 650 employees before being sold in 2015.

Through the company, Childers III helped contribute more than six figures to local charitable causes, such as Moffitt Cancer Center, Derrick Brooks Charities, and others.

Even well into his professional career, Childers III would still attend Land O’ Lakes athletic events and supported various athletic programs. He also helped spearhead the Land O’ Lakes Athletic Hall of Fame with other volunteers.

Mike McBride: Male Athlete
Mike McBride (Class of ’93) was a football and wrestling standout at Land O’ Lakes, earning All-State honors in the former and All-District honors in the latter, while also competing in track and field.

Former Land O’ Lakes football and wrestling standout Mike McBride

On the gridiron, McBride starred as a two-way lineman to become the school’s first All-State football player in 1992 — and is currently one of just five Land O’ Lakes football players to have earned the All-State designation all-time.

On the mat, McBride qualified and finished at or near the top in a number of local, regional and state tournaments. That included a 29-3 mark his senior season, where he won a district individual championship and placed third at regionals, along with collecting individual titles at the East Lake and Springstead Invitational meets.

McBride’s father, Charlie McBride, was inducted into the Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015, for his contributions as a coach and teacher. It marks the first father-son combo to be inducted into the school’s athletics Hall of fame.

Past Land O’ Lakes Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

2018

  • William Gebauer
  • Jeff Hendrix
  • Don Meredith
  • Kirk Peterson
  • Karla Walsh Graziano

2017

  • Allen Claggett
  • Desiree Croteau
  • Doug Hutchinson
  • Michael Keough
  • Stephen Querns

2016

  • 2002-2003 girls soccer team
  • Jerry English
  • Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier
  • Dianne McClendon
  • Phil Teston

2015

  • Kevin Dowling
  • Kenny Gorman
  • Charlie McBride
  • Sharmine McCreary
  • David Singleton

2014

  • John Benedetto
  • Dennis Blankenship
  • RJ McKenna
  • Tina McWithey
  • Will Weatherford

2013

  • Colleen Bentz
  • Tim Harvey
  • Kenneth McCurry
  • Robert Shirmohammad
  • Henry Walls

Published June 12, 2019

School to get $33 million renovation

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One of Pasco County’s oldest high schools is set to undergo a major makeover.

Across the next two-plus years, Zephyrhills High School will see a number of upgrades to not only give the school a modern aesthetic, but also to enhance campus safety and the overall learning environment.

The total price tag: $33 million, funded through Penny for Pasco.

Rendering of the campus’ renovated front entrance. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Details about the renovation project were shared by Pasco school district officials and contractors during a May 22 parent meeting.

The project is being completed by Tampa-based Peter Hepner Architects and Clearwater-based Creative Contractors.

An initial phase is set to be complete this summer — a new two-story, 17-classroom building, bringing the school’s capacity to accommodate about 1,950 students.

Other phases of the project will address the school’s existing main campus.

Among the highlights are state-of the-art classrooms and laboratories for the school’s career technical education programs.

For instance, the school’s criminal justice program will feature a 911 communications center, while a health occupations classroom will resemble a hospital setting, equipped with multiple beds, sinks and curtains. The school’s science, agriculture and building construction technology programs will see an enlarged space for better hands-on learning, as well.

Meantime, the media center will be remodeled with flat-screen technology, small group conference rooms and circulation desks, made to resemble “a university-type collaborative space,” architect Peter Hepner said.

Other notable additions include an expanded cafeteria and additional restrooms, plus upgrades to the commons area, teacher’s lounge and administration suites.

Rendering of the schools’ common areas. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Buildings will be overhauled with a new air conditioning system, fire sprinkler system and energy-efficient LED lighting, along with new glass windows and tile flooring planned throughout.

The school’s exterior will experience a facelift, too.

The main entry will be incorporated with more brick elements and a larger canopy to allow for more covered area during drop-offs and pickups in inclement weather. And, a courtyard and a gated perimeter with ornamental fencing will be installed.

Elsewhere, as an effort to enhance safety measures, some entrances to the school will be eliminated and become emergency exits only. Classroom doors will be altered with more secure locks, to prevent break-ins. Also, school visitors will be required to enter a new enclosed reception area to get checked in, before gaining access to the commons area.

The entire renovation project is expected to be complete by December 2021. Work will have to take place during school hours, but Hepner said disruption will be minimal with fences and visual and acoustic barriers, separating construction zones from daily school activity.

“There’s a lot that’s going to go into this project,” said Hepner, who’s firm is also working on the $29 million renovation at Land O’ Lakes High School. “It takes a little while to do it, but as each phase gets done, it just gets more and more exciting.”

Zephyrhills principal Angie Stone said the upgrades “bring this 1970s building back to life.”

“We just can’t wait,” Stone said, of the renovations. “The teachers are excited, we’re excited.”

Pasco Schools superintendent Kurt Browning also expressed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming enhancements.

“We’re just thrilled to be able to get this project going,” he said. “This school district is really committed to Zephyrhills High School and this community. We want the very best for our students, our teachers, our administrators and the Zephyrhills community.”

Published May 29, 2019

Hockey team formed for Land O’ Lakes High

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It all started as an idea between two dads who just wanted the best for their hockey-playing sons: What if we started our own hockey team at Land O’ Lakes High School?

After long months of conversations, fundraising and coordination, Joshua Whitman and Bill O’ Connor’s theoretical question became a reality.

Joshua Whitman, team manager and one of the people responsible for creating the newly formed Land O’ Lakes High School hockey team, watches the first period of game play through the glass. The Land O’ Lakes resident uses his tablet during the game to do live tracking of stats and to manage the live stream video. (Christine Holtzman)

This coming fall, the Land O’ Lakes High School hockey club will begin its first season in the Lightning High School Hockey League, or the LHSHL.

The Gators becomes the 19th school to join the league. The league is operated by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and features varsity level programs throughout Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties.

Hockey is not a sanctioned sport by the Florida High School Athletic Association, the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.

And, since most high schools don’t have enough players to field a team, the LHSHL has what’s called catchments, where it combines players usually from three or four different high schools to form a team.

Previously, Land O’ Lakes students would be zoned to play for the Mitchell Mustangs hockey team, which also includes players from Mitchell and Sunlake high schools.

While the other players keep their eyes on the ice, Peter Tedeschi, of Land O’ Lakes, turns to wave to some friends who came to support the team. The Gators squared off against the Wiregrass Ranch Hockey Club in their inaugural game on April 19 at Advent Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.

With their sons, who play travel league hockey together, set to be high school freshmen next year, Whitman and O’Connor didn’t want them to get lost on an already overpopulated Mitchell roster.

They also wanted them, and others, to get a true high school athletic experience — able to solely represent the Gators with their fellow Land O’ Lakes classmates.

O’ Connor put it this way: “It’s fun because we all live in the same community and we all see each other at school. It’s like playing on the high school football team, with all the people from the same area. That’s what’s cool about it. You can tell the enthusiasm from the kids.”

The parents got the blessing of the LHSHL to start a team and enlisted the help of USA Hockey to determine if Land O’ Lakes had enough players to make it all work.

They also canvassed social media to gauge interest from Land O’ Lakes families.

Gators player Michael Yevstratov, center, No. 5, heads the attack into the offensive zone after a center ice face-off win. His teammate, Ian Ravens, right, No. 13 , prepares to join Yevstratov in the battle.

The response was overwhelmingly positive.

“I was so surprised how enthusiastic everybody was and how supportive everyone was. That was the key. That’s what I think was good,” O’ Connor said.

Once it was confirmed their community had the hard numbers to fill a club roster, the dads created a nonprofit foundation, Central Pasco Youth Hockey Foundation Inc., to help with fundraising and sponsorships efforts, and oversee the general operation of the team.

They also went about filling a coaching staff, which is now led by Bill Karas, a Minnesota native who brings more than 50 years of coaching and scouting experience to the club.

The entire endeavor took all of about six months.

Joe Eisenberg, the team’s assistant coach, is calling out to his players during the first period of the game. The coach is generally yelling instructions on where to go on the ice or for players to return to the bench for a shift change.

“We just kept moving forward, and it just kind of snowballed,” Whitman said. “Looking back now, it did fly by. It was good we started early and got things done as fast as possible.”

Unlike most LHSHL teams, the Gators will have what’s called a “pure” team, with its entire roster made up of players who attend Land O’ Lakes High or are home-schooled and live within school boundaries.

It undoubtedly adds a school spirit factor to the team.

The hockey club raised about $1,800 selling Gators hockey sweatshirts alone, Whitman said, to help offset equipment and registration costs.

“It’s created quite a buzz at the school,” said Whitman. “One of the things that we want to try to do is kind of change the culture about high school hockey here in Florida, because it kind of is a secondary thought for most kids.”

The Gators hockey club actually began play this spring in a league operated by local rinks that’s independent of the LHSHL. The spring league is designed as a prelude to the fall season for current eighth-graders through high school juniors.

Gators Head Coach Bill Karas watches his players on defense. Karas, a Minnesota native, is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach and brings nearly 50 years of hockey experience to the Gators bench.

The spring roster has 28 players. That includes three high school juniors, a sophomore and a freshman, 15 eighth graders, and 10 seventh graders on the practice squad.

The club’s first-ever game was on April 19, when it faced Wiregrass Ranch High at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.

It was a memorable game for all, including the Gators head coach, who has seen just about everything in his five decade-long hockey career.

“First game here, we probably had 200 people. It was incredible. You don’t see that at a Minnesota high school game,” Karas said. “I was very impressed with the support that we’re getting from the Land O’ Lakes community, and I’m just glad to be part of it.”

The hockey dads and coaches aren’t the only ones excited about the Land O’ Lakes hockey venture. Players are, too, of course.

Leftwing Ian Ravens is one of the roster’s older, more experienced players, as a 16-year-old junior.

After the historic game, the Land O’Lakes High School Gators and the Wiregrass Ranch Hockey Club gathered for a group picture on the ice.

After playing in recreation leagues for many years, Ravens is glad to finally represent his high school in hockey gear.

“It’s a big thing. I’m looking forward to our senior nights, stuff like that, things that I wouldn’t be able to do playing for Mitchell or another team,” said Ravens.

“I think we’re going to get a lot of recognition in the school. We have a lot of fans,” he added.

Meantime, Ravens is confident about the team’s prospects in the LHSHL regular season, which runs roughly from September through February.

Though the fall roster will mostly be composed of incoming freshman, the rising senior feels the upstart team can hold its own. In the spring league, the Gators have won a few games and remained competitive in others.

“I think that we’re going to go in strong, which we have to,” said Ravens, who’s been playing recreational hockey for about 11 years. “We’re going to be playing a lot of different teams, not just the teams that we’re playing now (in the spring). We’ve got to be more physical, which I definitely see in everyone. I see that we have a lot of potential. I think we’re going to go far with it.”

Published May 29, 2019

AATL tops Land O’ Lakes in postseason tune-up

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Two of the state’s top softball players matched up for the final time against one another in high school uniforms when Academy at the Lakes hosted Land O’ Lakes in a recent non-district game at Starkey Ranch District Park.

Starting pitcher from the Academy at the Lakes, senior Lexi Kilfoyl, on the mound before the start of the game against Land O’ Lakes High School. (Christine Holtzman)

In the latest matchup between crosstown foes, the Wildcats and senior ace pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl bested the Gators and their senior star pitcher, Callie Turner, en route to a 10-2 victory on April 24.

Kilfoyl struck out 14 batters on her way to a one-hit complete game, allowing four walks and two unearned runs.

It marked a confidence-boosting performance for the 2018 Gatorade State Player of the Year and University of Alabama signee, who’s methodically battling back from a right shoulder ailment that’s plagued her since early March.

Land O’ Lakes High School starting pitcher, senior Callie Turner, winds up to throw a pitch in the first inning.

It also put the bow on a 13-7 regular season for the Class 2A defending state champs as they gear up for what is likely another lengthy postseason run.

Kilfoyl’s counterpart and fellow USA junior national team candidate didn’t fare as well, however.

Turner, the Class 6A Player of the Year, surrendered all 10 runs (seven earned) in six innings of action against the Wildcats’ balanced lineup. It was a rare off night for the University of Tennessee signee, who finished the regular season with a 1.76 earned run average and 158 strikeouts in 95.1 innings.

In spite of the late season defeat, the Gators, like Academy at the Lakes, are hoping for a deep playoff run since ending the regular season 20-5 overall and 9-1 in district play. Land O’ Lakes finished last season as the Class 6A state runner-up after falling to Plantation American Heritage in the state title game.

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state softball championships begin May 8 and continue through May 24 for all classifications.

Published May 08, 2019

Academy at the Lakes’ athletic trainer Makenzie Brinker, right, examines the injuries of player Jessica Mott, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning.
Land O’ Lakes High School senior Shelby Westbrook up at bat in the third inning. Westbrook was walked to first.
Academy at the Lakes’ Coach Diane Stephenson gives a pep talk to batter Kacey Atkins during the second inning of the game.

Spring football preview for area teams

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High school football is back in session, as spring football practices are now underway statewide.

And, while the 2019 prep season remains months away, Florida high school football fans still will get a taste of how their teams are shaping up with a series of exhibition games and jamborees in late May.

Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions from April 22 through May, according to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) guidelines. The first allowable day for full-contact tackling is April 27.

Take a look at these five area teams to watch as spring practices ramp up:

Academy at the Lakes will seek its third straight eight-man title in 2019. The team is currently on a 20-game winning streak dating back to 2017. (File)

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats
The back-to-back defending eight-man Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state champion Wildcats will have another target on its back as it enters the new season on a 20-game winning streak (including a win by forfeit) dating back to September of 2017.

But, that shouldn’t faze an Academy at the Lakes squad that again returns the father-son combo of head coach Shawn Brown and rising junior quarterback Jalen Brown.

Shawn Brown is a two-time reigning FCAPPS Coach of the Year, while Jalen Brown won the 2018 FCAPPS Heisman Trophy Winner award, given to the eight-man league’s top player.

Last season the 6-foot-2, 180-pound quarterback completed nearly 58 percent of his throws for 1,105 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns on 93 carries.

In addition to Jalen Brown, the team returns All-Conference standouts in center Dwight Downing and defensive end Elijah Freedman. Also expect significant contributions from the likes of tailback Adrian Leverette, receivers Cole Lallanilla and Caleb Yann, and linebacker Denzyl Downing, among others.

Perhaps the biggest question for the Wildcats is finding ways to replace the production left behind by graduating All-State linebacker Dylan Price and All-State defensive back Jullian Jennings, as well as All-State offensive lineman Andrew Kilfoyl, who has since transferred to Gaither.

Land O’ Lakes Gators
Under new head coach Chad Walker, the Gators achieved its first winning season since 2013, going 7-3 and narrowly missing out on a playoff berth.

Land O’ Lakes is looking to build off last season’s 7-3 campaign under head coach Chad Walker.

The turnaround season also included a 35-24 win over crosstown foe Sunlake to crack an eight-game losing streak in the annual ‘Butter Bowl’ rivalry game.

Naturally, fans of the storied Pasco County program will expect similar success again this year.

It won’t come easy, however, as the team moves on from a sizable senior class that included its leading rusher, leading receiver, leading tackler and top kicking specialists.

Working in the team’s favor, though, is the return of one of the area’s top signal callers in rising senior quarterback and two-year starter Ethan Forrester.

Last season the 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete completed nearly 52 percent of his passes for 1,429 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the Gators have put together a tough 2019 regular season slate that includes five teams that made the playoffs last season — Gaither, Mitchell, Tampa Catholic, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills Christian, respectively.

Steinbrenner Warriors
Following a disappointing 2-7 output in 2017, the Warriors rebounded last year to finish 6-5 overall with a 4-2 mark in District 6-8A, including a four-game winning streak to close out the season.

Steinbrenner has plenty of weapons to build off last year’s 6-5 mark.

With a bevy of returning talent, the momentum should continue into 2019 under longtime head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo.

The Warriors feature multiple NCAA FBS Division I football targets, such as receivers Aidan Bitter and Dean Patterson, and Matthew Adcock, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive lineman.

The squad is stacked with other playmakers, too.

Quarterback Haden Carlson, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jeff Carlson, is poised to build off a junior campaign where he completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,418 yards, 10 total touchdowns and four interceptions.

The rising senior will have plenty of weapons at his disposal in the likes of Bitter (32 receptions, 568 yards, six touchdowns), Patterson (39 receptions, 391 yards, two touchdowns), Jett Law (22 receptions, 212 yards) and Deon Silas (1,198 all-purpose yards), among others.

The Warriors also return several of its top players on the other side of the ball, including rising junior linebacker Austin Brannen, who registered 130 total tackles, including 12 for loss.

Meanwhile, special teams figure to be another strength, with All-State punter Cameron Brown, kicker Trevor Haire, and a return game that collectively averaged 28.2 yard on kick returns and 13.2 yards on punt returns.

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls
With a string of three consecutive winning seasons and playoff appearances under head coach Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch seems positioned for another year as one of Pasco County’s premier programs.

With a large senior class, Wiregrass Ranch will seek its fourth straight playoff berth in 2019.

And, most any win will be hard earned in 2019, particularly with new district foes in Class 6A state runner-up Armwood, East Bay and Tampa Bay Tech.

In fact, every opponent on the Bulls’ 10-game schedule sported a winning record last season, aside from crosstown rival Wesley Chapel, who finished with a 5-5 mark. Of those teams, half qualified for the playoffs from their respective classification.

Fortunately for the Bulls, the team has the benefit of experience on its side with about two dozen rising seniors.

That includes one of the Sunshine State’s most productive defensive players in first team All-State linebacker Dylan Ridolph.

Ridolph’s 22 sacks last season ranked second in the state, trailing only Winter Garden Foundation Academy’s Warren Sapp II (24). The 6-foot, 215-pound Ridolph already holds the county record for most career sacks (37).

Some other upperclassman to keep an eye on include defensive back Jonavon Tills (five interceptions) and tailback Keith Walker (667 all-purpose yards, nine touchdowns).

Meantime, the Bulls will have to break in a new quarterback with the graduation of two-year starter Grant Sessums.

Such duty will likely fall to promising rising senior dual-threat quarterback Hunter Helton.

Last season Helton served as the team’s backup quarterback option, but showcased his athleticism as the team’s leading receiver (16 receptions, 315 yards, four touchdowns).

His last extended action under center came as a sophomore on junior varsity, where he completed nearly 54 percent of his throws for 557 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception.

Zephyrhills Bulldogs
Going undefeated in the regular season on its way to securing its second straight district title, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs in 2018 put together one of the more notable campaigns in recent memory.

Coming off back-to-back district championships, Zephyrhills will look to several new faces to make an impact in 2019.

It also added to the program’s tally of winning seasons, which now numbers eight straight dating back to 2011.

Maintaining their sustained dominance this year may prove challenging, though, as the Bulldogs say farewell to 23 seniors from last year’s 11-1 squad, 10 of whom earned All-Conference honors.

Among that group is the team’s starting quarterback, several leading receivers, multiple leading tacklers and top special teamers.

Serving another blow to the team’s 2019 depth: All-Conference linebacker Ja’varrius Wilson recently announced his intention to transfer to Clearwater Academy International for his senior year. He was fourth on the team in tackles (91) and second in tackles for loss (18).

On the bright side for Zephyrhills, up-and-coming head coach Nick Carroll returns for 2019, looking to build upon a combined 29-6 mark his first three seasons.

Of course, the Bulldogs won’t be totally devoid of impactful playmakers in 2019.

Rising senior two-way lineman Demetris Wright (40 pancake blocks, 30 tackles), and rising juniors Zyre Roundtree (541 rushing yards, six touchdowns) and Tre Gallimore (45 tackles, two interceptions) are a few to watch, among others.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their 2018 records)
Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots: 6-6 overall, 2-2 region
  • Freedom High School Patriots: 4-6 overall, 2-4 district
  • Gaither High School Cowboys: 7-4 overall, 4-2 district
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors: 6-5 overall, 4-2 district

Pasco County:

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats: (10-0 overall, 7-0 district)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes: (4-5 overall, 3-1 district)
  • Cypress Creek Middle High School Coyotes: (3-7 overall, 1-0 region)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators: (7-3 overall, 2-2 district)
  • Pasco High School Pirates: (2-8 overall, 0-4 district)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks: (4-6 overall, 1-3 district)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats: (5-5 overall, 4-3 district)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls: (7-4 overall, 4-2 district)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors: (7-4 overall, 0-1 region)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs: (11-1 overall, 6-0 district)

Spring game schedule
May 16
East Ridge at Zephyrhills
Zephyrhills Christian at Fivay
Jamboree: Freedom, King, Wharton at Hillsborough
Jamboree: Gaither, Sickles, Steinbrenner at Alonso

May 17
Anclote at Sunlake
Cypress Creek at Pasco
Land O’ Lakes at Wesley Chapel
Wiregrass Ranch at East Lake

May 18
Bishop McLaughlin at Carrollwood Day

May 24
Jamboree: Academy at the Lakes, Master’s Academy, Lakeside Christian, Solid Rock at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center

Player to watch from each area team
Hillsborough County

  • Shelton Quarles Jr., Carrollwood Day, athlete
  • Tawfiq Thomas, Freedom, defensive tackle
  • Chance Coleman, Gaither, linebacker
  • Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, athlete

Pasco County

  • Jalen Brown, Academy at the Lakes, quarterback
  • Adam Berry, Bishop McLaughlin, tailback
  • Jalen Warren, Cypress Creek, athlete
  • Ethan Forrester, Land O’ Lakes, quarterback
  • Darrion Robinson, Pasco, receiver
  • Jonathan Wallace, Sunlake, defensive end
  • Jelani Vassell, Wesley Chapel, athlete
  • Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, linebacker
  • Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, tailback
  • Malik Jones, Zephyrhills Christian, defensive lineman

Published April 24, 2019