The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Sunlake High School

Solid year for local hoops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A bevy of talent helped, too.

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

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

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

It was a year of firsts for Keystone Prep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They did so in exciting fashion, too.

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

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

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

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

Other notable boys teams:

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

Other notable boys players:

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

Girls

Carollwood Day School girls basketball won 28 games and finished Class 4A state runner-up. The team is poised for another successful season in 2019, as the roster is composed entirely of underclassmen. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other notable girls teams:

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

Other notable girls players:

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

–Stats compiled using MaxPreps.com—

Published March 14, 2018

Track and field standout leaps into nationals

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It didn’t take long for Keymo Pearson to realize Arielle Boone oozed potential when she joined his AAU track club last spring.

“Day 1, when I saw her…I said, ‘Hey, if this girl stays with the team, she’s going to be great.’ My exact words were, ‘She has the chance to be one of the best jumpers in Pasco County history,’” said Pearson, an assistant track coach at the Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track Club.

Turns out the coach’s assessment is pretty spot on.

Sunlake High School senior Arielle Boone will compete at New Balance Indoor Nationals at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City, from March 9 to March 11. She will take part in the triple jump and high jump events. (Courtesy of Speed Starz Track Club)

Boone will compete this weekend in both the high jump and triple jump events in New Balance Indoor Nationals at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

A senior at Sunlake High School, Boone will join more than 3,500 of the country’s best track and field student-athletes, from more than 40 states and Canadian provinces — each looking to run, hurdle, jump, throw and walk their way to titles and All-American honors in 48 boys’ and girls’ championship events.

The event runs from March 9 through March 11.

Boone qualified for the prestigious competition after posting elite qualifying marks in triple jump (39’ 2.5) and long jump (18’ 2.5) at recent AAU meets in Orlando and Birmingham, Alabama.

She is believed to be just the second track and field athlete from Pasco County to ever compete in the national event. The other is former Pasco High star Alfreda Steele, who qualified in 2014. Steele now is a sprinter and jumper at the University of Miami.

Boone isn’t nervous about the big stage, despite squaring up alongside countless future Division I track starts and possibly some Olympians-in-the-making.

Instead, she’s poised to hold her own — especially after going toe-to-toe with such athletes at AAU meets throughout the summer and fall.

“I’m not worried about it. I’m just there to compete and to get my marks,” said Boone, who acknowledged she used to be intimidated, when she first began training for AAU meets in the spring and summer.

A former gymnast, Boone joined her high school track team as a freshman at the behest of former Sunlake track coach Nick Carroll, now the head football coach at Zephyrhills High School.

“Coach was like, ‘If you’re one of my fastest girls, you have to run for me, OK?’ Like, he really pursued me. He wanted me to run track. And, I was like, ‘You know what? My dad’s been telling me that for years, so I’ll try it,’ and I ended up being pretty decent, so I stuck with it,” Boone explained.

Early on in her high school career, Boone mainly competed in sprints, such as the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, and the 4×100 relay.

It wasn’t until last season she took field events seriously.

The leap into those events — especially the triple jump — was bred out of pure curiosity.

Said Boone, “Triple jump seemed so complicated and just difficult, which it is. It’s the hardest event track puts on your body. I just wanted to see how it works; I had no idea.”

Sunlake girls track coach Trey Burdick said Boone’s jumping numbers really took off toward the end the 2017 season.

“Something clicked at districts last year,” Burdick said.

All of sudden, Boone started hitting personal records of 2 feet, then 4 feet in the triple jump, and that’s something you don’t usually see, Burdick added.

Boone firmly solidified herself at the Class 3A state championships as one of the state’s top jumpers after securing a ninth-place finish in the triple jump (then a 36’ 11.25), just one spot away from podium honors.

She was also named named the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s Girls Field Athlete of the Year.

“I was just like, ‘Wow, I have been doing this event for not even six months, and I got this close. Next year I’m going to wreck it. That’s what I really want to do,’” Boone said.

After the season Boone joined Speed Starz to work one-on-one with Pearson, himself a former college track and field standout at Kansas-based Friends University and Independence Community College. He serves as an assistant with BB Roberts, who founded the AAU club in 2013.

Pearson trained Boone on core strength, plyometric movements, and shoring up her bounding technique to make her an even better jumper.

“I saw that she was very explosive, and that was really what drew my attention,” Pearson said.

“Just seeing the talent that she had without an offseason training, it just was like, ‘Wow, I know the drills that I’m going to give her is going to make her that much better as an athlete.’”

“I had to bound my way into becoming a really good triple-jumper,” Boone said. It’s a lot of training involved. It’s an event that you can’t play with it. You have to do a lot.”

After the national competition, Boone will go back to focusing on her final high school season.

In addition to Sunlake High records in the triple jump (38’ 9.5) and high jump (17’ 9.75), Boone also claims school records in the 200 meters (26.32 seconds) — which she’s owned since her freshman year — and as a leg on the 4×100 relay (49.55 seconds).

Burdick noted Boone could soon own the school record in the 100 meters, once she gets the chance to run the event. High school track athletes are allowed to compete in a maximum of four events per meet.

“She’s probably the reason why we’re the favorite to win conference this year,” Burdick said.

“She’s one of those athletes that if I could put her in six (events) I’d put her in six. She’s a guaranteed first place in at least three of her events every meet, and most of the times it’s four.”

Boone’s recent emergence, meanwhile, has the caught the eyes of multiple Division I college track programs statewide.

She’s picked up scholarship offers from South Florida, Central Florida, Florida Atlantic and Florida International universities.

Boone said she plans to spend the next month visiting colleges before making a decision by the time the spring singing period begins on April 11.

Whichever program Boone chooses, those coaches will be getting a dedicated and focused athlete.

“She catches on really fast — that’s what’s great about her. She listens, she’s disciplined, and she actually works on those things on her own so it makes it that much easier,” Pearson explained.

“Motivation’s never been an issue for her,” Burdick said. “She’s always came to practice everyday and is just like strictly business, ‘This is what we need to get done today’ and boom that’s what she’s doing.’”

“She knows (the) drills, she picks up on them, and she knows how to go out there and do it without me telling her,” he added.

Published March 7, 2018

Debate continues over best response to Parkland killings

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Students, faculty and staff are expected to begin the long journey back toward normalcy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this week in Parkland.

But, the debate over the best response to the Valentine Day’s slaying of 14 students and three teachers remains embroiled in controversy.

Audience members bow their heads as a prayer is given for the 17 students of Parkland Florida and local student, Christian Robinson, who were killed due to gun violence. (Randy Underhill)

In the aftermath of the shooting spree, conducted by a lone gunman using an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, thousands of angry students descended on Tallahassee demanding that lawmakers take action, to prevent a future tragedy.

There was a lie-in in Washington D.C., walkouts at schools across Florida and almost nonstop coverage of the issues on cable television networks.

Student survivors of the massacre have led the charge in demanding action from lawmakers.

Some are demanding a ban on the sale of AR-15s, which so far does not appear to be making headway.

President Donald R. Trump met with parents of school shooting victims and with student survivors for a listening session.

And, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature have developed school safety proposals.

The specifics are expected to be fiercely debated, but Scott and legislative leaders expect school safety legislation to be passed before the session ends, which is scheduled for March 9.

At the local level, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis met in a school safety workshop session with Pasco County School Board members and school district staff.

Nicholas Ketterer, age 15, and Ethan Laws, age 15, both students at Sunlake High School, react to what is being read at the candlelight vigil for the students killed in Parkland, Florida and Port Richey.

Bilirakis asked the district to weigh in on what’s needed to improve school safety and how Washington can help.

“We’re going to have congressional hearings on this issue, the safe school issue. I wanted to hear from our school board,” Bilirakis said.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn said the district needs more funding to pay for additional school resource officers, to improve mental health services and to upgrade safety features on school campuses.

Pasco County School Board member Allen Altman concurred that those seem to be the three things at the top of the list, based on conversations he had during visits to nine schools over the course of three days, following the killings in Parkland.

School board member Alison Crumbley said there needs to be “extremely limited access” to military-style weapons.

“I am very concerned that a 19-year-old can purchase military-style weaponry, and has no training for this weaponry. We require training and licensing to drive a car, but not this. I think that’s a huge problem,” she said.

But, Crumbley also made it clear that she supports the 2nd Amendment: “My husband is a sportsman. He hunts. I’m not talking about those types of weapons, or guns.”

She’s against the idea of arming teachers, a suggestion that has been made by some.

Karen Hoffman, of Lutz, sits by herself, silently grieving 17 students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, and local student Christian Robinson, of Chasco Middle School, recently killed in Florida due to gun violence.

“I don’t want that responsibility put on our teachers,” Crumbley said.

Another part of the problem is distinguishing real threats from false information.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Lt. Troy Ferguson told those gathered: “Since Feb. 14, tips are coming in by the hour about suspicious activities, conversations heard online.

“Often, it’s been repeats of stories heard on the news that have been misconstrued as a threat in Pasco County,” he said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district has been swamped with calls and emails since the tragedy in Parkland. Some of the emails have been about threats, others with suggestions to help solve the problem, he said.

Social media exacerbates the problem of false information, Browning said.

“Kids are being reckless on social media,” he said.

“I don’t know how many times they have posted something stupid out on social media and then, when the sheriff’s office shows up at their door, it’s ‘Oh, I was only joking.’ Well, guess what, it is too late,” Browning said.

Browning urged parents to pay attention to what their children are doing on social media.

“There’s consequences. We’re talking about a second-degree felony. Kids don’t get it,” he said.

In the wake of the Parkland deaths, Browning has requested and has received regular patrols from the Sheriff’s Office at all district schools. He also has directed all principals to keep all gates locked and has directed teachers to keep all classroom doors locked.

Browning urges principals, students and staff to maintain a high vigilance regarding who is on their school’s campus.

After listening to the suggestions, Bilirakis said additional funding for school resource officers seems like a “no-brainer.” He also pledges to work on the possibility of seeking a federal grant to improve mental health care services.

To help promote healing in the aftermath of the Parkland shootings, the Pasco County Council PTA held three candlelight vigils across Pasco County.

Brandon Bracciale, principal at Chasco Middle School, attended the one at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

While the Parkland community was grieving the deaths of 17 people, Chasco Middle has been grieving the loss of Christian Robinson, a 14-year-old who has died, after a gunshot wound to the head on Valentine’s Day. He was in a car in Port Richey when he was shot.

“He was a very popular student,” Bracciale said.

Bracciale said the Parkland slayings have had a local impact.

He said his wife, an art teacher at Sunlake High School, noticed that her students were somber in the days following the Parkland deaths.

And, his middle school daughter, who attends Rushe Middle School, plans to participate in a nationwide school walkout, set for March 14.

As an educator, he believes that bulletproof windows and doors would help make schools safer. He also believes that restricting access to assault weapons and improved mental health care would help.

Victims of the Valentine’s Day shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Scott Beigel, 35; Martin Duque Anguiana, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Aaron Feis, 37; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Chris Hixon, 49; Luke Hoyer, 15; Cara Loughran, 15; Gina Montalto, 15; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena Ramsey, 17; Alex Schachter, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; Peter Wang, 15

Source: CNN

Sunlake, Pasco impress at wrestling championships

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Sunlake High School’s wrestling team can now lay claim as best in Pasco County.

Sunlake’s Matt Paduani, left, looks toward his coach as he feels the pressure from Wiregrass’ Khaled Khatib during tournament action at the Sunshine Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships hosted by Pasco High School in Dade City. Fourteen schools and 200 wrestlers competed.
(Fred Bellet)

The Seahawks outlasted 13 other schools and about 200 wrestlers to win its first-ever Sunshine Athletic Championship on Feb. 10 at Pasco High School.

For the Seahawks, depth won out.

Sunlake (189 points) claimed three individual champions — Ross Jennings (106 pound), Sullivan Harris (113 pound) and Tyler Estep (182) — and six total finalists— Jennings, Harris, Estep, Jake Koener (145), Mathew Paduani (160) and Cayman Wiseman (220) — to edge team runner-up Land O’ Lakes (180 points).

Sunlake had three individual champions and six finalists across the 14 weight classes — more than any other school.

“It’s a good momentum. Definitely a good confidence builder,” said Sergio Matos, Sunlake’s head coach.

Gulf High School’s wrestling coach, Nick Adams, watches his wrestler, James Dutton, as Dutton faces off against Sunlake’s Jake Koener in the 145-pound matchup at the Sunshine Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships.

“I knew it was going to be a tight, tight team race with Land O’Lakes, but I felt confident that our kids would deliver,” he said.

Though pleased with the overall showing, Matos acknowledged the Seahawks have plenty to work on in advance of the District 8-2A tournament this weekend.

That starts with improving technique and hitting the film room.

“A few things come to mind are bottom (positioning), getting better control on top, and pulling the trigger on our feet,” Matos said.

Pasco High displays youthful potential
In addition to Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes, the event host — Pasco High School — likewise delivered a strong showing with its fourth place finish (152 points), just narrowly behind third place finisher River Ridge High School (154.5 points).

Pasco had two individual champions — sophomores Jake Thornton (120 pound) and Travis Knowlton (126), and four finalists — Thornton, Knowlton, sophomore Colson Mullis (132) and junior Tim Johnson (195).

The achievement was even more notable considering the Pirates have a young roster missing varsity wrestlers in several weight classes and a first-year head coach in Josh Thornton.

Pasco High School’s Tim Johnson, left, prepares to grapple with Troy Royal, of Wesley Chapel High School, in the 195-pound matchup. Royal won the match.

The Pirates also have been without senior leader Cameron Lee, who earned Second-Team All-Conference honors last season in the 170-pound weight class. Lee broke his forearm early in the season, Thornton said.

“We don’t even have a full team right now. Our bread and butter, our core — almost all of them are sophomores,” Thornton said.

“They’re showing up and willing to work, and it’s starting to show on the mats now, too,” he said.

The injury bug also hit another standout wrestler recently. Mullis had been dealing with a knee injury the past three weeks prior to his runner-up finish at 132 pounds in the conference championships.

Toni Maple, a former Pasco High School wrestler, now a mom to daughter, Emersyn Maple, 4 months old, came to watch friend, Pasco High School wrestler Travis Knowlton, as he takes on Alex Alvarez, of Wiregrass High School, in the 126-pound weight class.

“He hasn’t wrestled in the room at all. He’s only been running and doing rehab stuff. It was impressive to see him get second against (Anclote’s Owen Lott) who’s a state qualifier,” Thornton said.

Thornton is a former professional bicyclist with a background in boxing and judo. The coach draws upon that experience to show his wrestlers the importance of balancing endurance and intensity in matches.

“It feels like a sprint for 6 minutes,” he said, “and a sprint that someone else does not want you to win.”

The approach of endurance over muscle worked for Knowlton when he faced Wiregrass Ranch’s Alex Alvarez in the 126-pound finals.

“He’s much stronger than me, and I just tried to tire him out, and I took advantage of his shot and got around him, getting the two points,” Knowlton said.

“He ended up on his back, and I got some more points,” the wrestler added.

Meanwhile, Jake Thornton used previous knowledge of his opponent— Land O’ Lakes’ Dante Reese — in his win at 120 pounds.

Pasco High School’s Travis Knowlton gets his awards for competing in the Sunshine Athletic Conference Wrestling Championships held in the Pasco High School gymnasium.

“I’ve wrestled him before, and I just kind of knew some of his moves. I’ve been trying to work on my shot (takedown) lately,” Jake Thornton said.

Pasco next looks ahead to a tough district 7-2A which includes powerhouse programs such as Brandon and Lake Gibson high schools.

Despite its youth, the team is looking forward to the challenge this week and beyond.

“We’re a young team, but we’re a fighting team,” Knowlton said.

“We’re just very close-knit. As a young team that’s just going to be nothing but help us get better,” Jake Thornton said.

2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference wrestling results:

Team scores:
Sunlake (189 points)

Land O’ Lakes (180)

River Ridge (154.5)

Pasco (152)

Mitchell (110)

Gulf (109)

Wiregrass Ranch (81.5)

Anclote (75)

Ridgewood (71)

Cypress Creek (64)

Hudson (58)

Zephyrhills (54)

Fivay (52)

Wesley Chapel (26)

Individual championships (by weight class)
106: Ross Jennings, Sunlake

113: Sullivan Harris, Sunlake

120: Jake Thornton, Pasco

126: Travis Knowlton, Pasco

132: Owen Lott, Anclote

138: Solen Sheppard, Gulf

145: James Dutton, Gulf

152: Andrew Ferrell, Anclote

160: Khaled Khatib, Wiregrass

170: Mark Kieper, Wiregrass

182: Tyler Estep, Sunlake

195: Troy Royal, Wesley Chapel

220: James Buehrig, Hudson

285: Gabriel Schmenk, River Ridge

Individual runner-up (by weight class)
106: Devin Smith, River Ridge

113: Kyle Eldridge, Land O’ Lakes

120: Dante Reese, Land O’ Lakes

126: Alex Alvarez, Wiregrass Ranch

132: Colson Mullis, Pasco

138: Kevin Batey, River Ridge

145: Jake Koener, Sunlake

152: Scott Kren, Land O’ Lakes

160: Mathew Paduani, Sunlake

170: Mateo Feagley, Ridgewood

182: Justin Miranda, Fivay

195: Tim Johnson, Pasco

220: Cayman Wiseman, Sunlake

285: Demetrius Wright, Zephyrhills

Published February 14, 2018

‘Get Loud!’ takes aim at sexual assault, domestic violence

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Cheers normally reverberate through Wiregrass Ranch High School’s gymnasium when a boys basketball player on the home team scores.

That didn’t happen though during the initial minutes of the varsity team’s Jan. 30 game against Sunlake High School.

Instead, spectators remained silent, in response to signs being shown to them that said “Shhh” and “Be Quiet.”

Lots of people wore purple to a special event staged during the Jan. 30 basketball game between Wiregrass Ranch and Sunlake high schools. The goal was to raise awareness about the problems of power-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. (B.C. Manion)

The crowd kept quiet until the ninth point was scored and then —responding to signs that said “Break the Silence” — spectators roared.

Obviously, there was a lot more going on than just a routine basketball game.

In fact, a full-fledged public awareness campaign was being staged, too.

Wiregrass Ranch High School’s basketball game was the venue for “Get Loud!”

The event was presented by the high school, in Wesley Chapel, in conjunction with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and Sunrise of Pasco County Inc. Domestic and Sexual Violence Center. It also was supported through a Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation Community Heroes grant.

Staying silent for nine points was intended to call attention to the fact that every 9 seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted or beaten.

Besides making people more aware of the problem, the event aims to spread the message that it’s time to break the silence about these forms of violence, which are sometimes deadly.

Wiregrass Ranch senior Gabby Azzolina led the efforts to bring the event to her school. She said people don’t realize the extent of the problem, and survivors don’t know where to turn for help.

“So many people don’t know there are facilities to help and numbers to call,” Azzolina said. “I want them to know that it’s OK to get loud about it, and break the silence. The Crisis Center’s number is 2-1-1.”

Mathematics teacher Amy Munroe helped Azzolina to organize the event at Wiregrass Ranch.

Munroe said she was happy to help when she was asked. She hopes that more people will begin talking about the problem, as a result of the event.

“Just to be able to talk about it, is a big deal,” Munroe said.

Buttons at the ‘Get Loud!’ event helped spread the message of the problems of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Dottie Urbanek Nash, director of education and prevention for Sunrise, said these kinds of events are important.

“Awareness campaigns like this are wonderful. They do a lot to get the word out about what’s happening, locally. Unfortunately, we tend to think that domestic violence doesn’t happen here,” she said.

It’s also important for people to know there are ways to help prevent these types of violence, she said.

The Wiregrass Ranch event evolved out of a conversation between Gabby’s mom, Madeline Azzolina, and Denise Cassedy, whose daughter, Katie, initiated the first “Get Loud!” event at Robinson High School two years ago.

After Katie graduated, her sister, Carolina, got involved, and now — Robinson, Plant and Hillsborough high schools in Tampa have “Get Loud!” events.

Wiregrass Ranch intends to make this an annual event, Munroe said.

Some sobering statistics

  • One of every three women have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within her lifetime. The same is true for one in every four men.
  • One in five women has been sexually assaulted.
  • One in seven women has been stalked. The same is true for one in 18 men.
  • Nearly two-thirds of all sexual assaults are not reported to the police.

Source: The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Do you need help? Call 2-1-1

Published February 7, 2018

All-Pasco County fall awards announced

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High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2017-2018 fall sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West Division.

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

Fall Sports (Boys)
2017-2018 SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Cross Country
Coach of the Year: Chris Loth, Wiregrass Ranch
Runner of the Year: Alex Normandia, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team All-Conference
Alex Normandia, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Kevin Jaaves, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Giovanni Duran, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Dominic Burleson, Sunlake, junior

Devin Pollay, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

Edward Scheid, Sunlake, sophomore

Joseph Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Second-Team All-Conference
Jericho Cooey, Pasco, senior

Adam Hahn, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Josiah Pineda, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Carlos Cruz, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Gavin Kennedy, Sunlake, junior

Anthony Dimarco, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Abdallah Mbowe, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Joseph Hoppe, Zephyrhills, sophomore

John Rowsell, Cypress Creek, freshman

Sunlake High’s Jordan Sarhaddi was named 2017-2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Boys’ Golfer of the Year. The junior took first place at the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet in October. He later won the districts and was runner-up at regionals before finishing 16th at the Class 2A state championships in Orlando. (File)

2017-2018 SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Golf
Coach of the Year: Shaun Van Patten, Zephyrhills
Golfer of the Year: Jordan Sarhaddi, Sunlake

First-Team All-Conference
Jordan Sarhaddi, Sunlake, junior

Damien Rhule, Sunlake, senior

Jarrod Smith, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Wyatt Pisarski, Zephyrhills, senior

Gabriel Fleck, Pasco, senior

Second-Team All-Conference
Zach Bauer, Wesley Chapel, senior

Cade Darbyshire, Pasco, senior

Brendan Schmied, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Roddy Kight, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Landon Ogilbee, Zephyrhills, senior

Honorable Mention
Max Budd, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Zach Holiday, Land O’ Lakes, senior

2017-2018 SAC East All-Conference Boys’ Swimming & Diving
Coach of the Year: Brian Vaile, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Jabari Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes
Diver of the Year: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)— Patryk Pilkowski, Jabari Ramsey, Zachary Davis, Zuri Ramsey

200 Freestyle: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

200 Individual Medley: Colin Wilkins, Sunlake, sophomore

50 Freestyle: Dominic Ortanez, Sunlake, sophomore

100 Butterfly: Jabari Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, senior

100 Freestyle: Patryk Pilkowski, Land O’ Lakes, junior

500 Freestyle: Douglas Lankton, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)—Brendon Thai, Dominic Ortanez, Colin Wilkins, Jay Jay Fonnotto

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

100 Breaststroke: Jabari Ramsey, Land O’ Lakes, senior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)— Patryk Pilkowski, Jabari Ramsey, Zachary Davis, Zuri Ramsey

Diver: Mason Gandy, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

Second-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Zephyrhills)—Julian Jennings, Houston Neal, Peyton Lebron, Zayne Trebour

200 Freestyle: Quinn Crouse, Cypress Creek, freshman

200 Individual Medley: Jack Kaatze, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

50 Freestyle: David Garbutt, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

100 Butterfly: David Garbutt, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

100 Freestyle: Danny Amaya, Wesley Chapel, sophomore

500 Freestyle: Quinn Crouse, Cypress Creek, freshman

200 Freestyle Relay: (Wesley Chapel)—Daniel Amaya, Brennen Choate, Jayden Rogers, Dominick Slay

100 Backstroke: Ravidu Idipplil-Pathiran, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

100 Breaststroke: Griffen Sutek, Land O’ Lakes, freshman

400 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)— Nathan Doris, Diego Hernandez, Ryan Juarez, Paul Scavino

Diver: Rick Pritchard, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention
Quentin Carren, Pasco, freshman

Land O’ Lakes High’s Rachel Michner was named 2017-2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Volleyball Player of the Year. The junior hitter on the season tallied 201 kills, 60 blocks, 30 aces and 53 digs. The Gators (18-10) reached the Class 7A regional semifinal. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Fall Sports (Girls)
2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Volleyball
Coach of the Year: Michelle Davis, Wiregrass Ranch
Player of the Year: Rachel Michner, Land O’ Lakes

First-Team All-Conference
Destanie Aydt, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Sydney Bade, Wesley Chapel, senior

Rachel Michner, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Caroline Schoonover, Sunlake, sophomore

Shayna Heymann, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Llanek Davis, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Abbie Hindersman, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

Second-Team All-Conference
Peyton Patterson, Wesley Chapel, senior

Jaizah Anderson, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

Sydney Hiner, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Elizabeth Spalding, Sunlake, senior

Kamea Nash, Sunlake, junior

Elanny Breton, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Rebecca Wolff, Pasco, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Shayla Fleshman, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Land O’ Lakes High’s Natalie Abernathy was named 2017-2018 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Girls’ Runner of the Year. The junior was seventh at the Class 3A state meet (18:39.30). Her top time this season was 17:51.59, which ranks fourth overall among girls in the state regardless of classification. (File)

2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Cross Country
Coach of the Year: Randy Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes

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

Liina Winborn, Sunlake, sophomore

Estefania Acosta, Land O’ Lakes, junior

Shannon Gordy, Sunlake, freshman

Emily Jenkins, Sunlake, sophomore

Reis Ehman, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Kylee Ehman, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Second-Team All-Conference
Guadalupe Guerra, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Emma Skantze, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Olivia March, Wesley Chapel, freshman

Mariah Morales, Sunlake, junior

Brenna Moran, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Anna Moore, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Breanna Preiser, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Honorable Mention
Ashleigh Lacey, Cypress Creek, freshman

Madison Kaylor, Pasco, senior

Josalyn Wingo, Zephyrhills, junior

2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Golf
Coach of the Year: Kathleen Dorkowski
Golfer of the Year: Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team All-Conference
Maggie Schmock, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Emily Alderman, Zephyrhills, junior

Kacie Huber, Pasco, senior

Norah Catlin, Wiregrass Ranch, freshman

Hannah Sullivan, Zephyrhills, junior

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

Loryn Finn, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

Sofia Clark, Sunlake, sophomore

Maddie Wagner, Sunlake, sophomore

Callisa Kwiat, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Honorable Mention
Hannah Collin, Wesley Chapel, senior

Cydnee Jonas, Wesley Chapel, freshman

2017-18 SAC East All-Conference Girls’ Swimming & Diving
Coach of the Year: Tanner Schmitz, Land O’ Lakes
Swimmer of the Year: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake
Diver of the Year: Taylor Watson, Wesley Chapel

First-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Sunlake)—Tori Eurell, Hanna Barton, Elise Ballash, Chloe Grimme

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

200 Individual Relay: Audrey Ballash, Sunlake, sophomore

50 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, sophomore

100 Butterfly: Margarita Czupryn, Land O’ Lakes, sophomore

100 Freestyle: Chloe Grimme, Sunlake, sophomore

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

200 Freestyle Relay: (Sunlake)—Tori Eurell, Chloe Grimme, Audrey Ballash, Hannah Barton

100 Backstroke: Tori Eurell, Sunlake, junior

100 Breaststroke: Elise Ballash, Sunlake, junior

400 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)— Taylor Ward, Romina McCloskey, Margarita Czupryn, Ashley Schrader

Diver: Taylor Watson, Wesley Chapel, senior

Second-Team All-Conference
200 Medley Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)— Daniela LaFlamme, Kieligh Grace, Kyra Johnson, Delaney Smith

200 Freestyle: Alex Sprague, Sunlake, freshman

200 Individual Relay: Alex Sprague, Sunlake, freshman

50 Freestyle: Brooke Duncan, Wesley Chapel, senior

100 Butterfly: Kyra Johnson, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

100 Freestyle: Brooke Duncan, Wesley Chapel, senior

500 Freestyle: Daniela LaFlamme, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

200 Freestyle Relay: (Land O’ Lakes)—Jessica Adcock, Amaya Henry, Jennifer Zartman, Rowan Rees

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

400 Freestyle Relay: (Wiregrass Ranch)— Daniela LaFlamme, Delaney Smith, Kieligh Grace, Kyra Johnson

Diver: Alexa Scalchunes, Sunlake, junior

Honorable Mention:
Gianna Nuguit, Cypress Creek, freshman

Mykenzy Neal, Zephyrhills, sophomore

Abigail Fisher, Pasco, junior

Published December 27, 2017

Young women get hands-on science experience

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The Perry Initiative held a one-day program at Medical Center of Trinity to give young women a hands-on experience in science, and to broaden their exposure to opportunities in the fields of orthopedic surgery and engineering.

Erin Sinnott said participating in The Perry Initiative at Medical Center of Trinity was ‘an amazing experience,’ far exceeding her expectations. (Courtesy of Medical Center of Trinity)

The event, which was last month and was co-sponsored by the Medical Center of Trinity, involved 40 young women selected to attend from 16 local high schools.

The students had a chance to learn from prominent women surgeons, engineers and business women in the field of orthopedics.

Women currently make up 7 percent of the surgeon and engineer workforce in the field of orthopedics, according to a news release from The Perry Initiative. The event was intended to help give participants exposure to potential careers options.

The students had the chance to perform surgical simulations to correct scoliosis deformity, to fix a broken leg and to repair a rotator cuff, according to the news release.

The day included lectures on engineering and orthopedics, the simulations and a question-and-answer session.

Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake and Steinbrenner were among the participating high schools.

Dr. Jennifer Cook, orthopedic surgery, was instrumental in bringing the program to the medical center.

Kylie Siminiski, a student at Steinbrenner High School, works with Dr. Jennifer Cook during a one-day program at Medical Center of Trinity aimed at giving young women exposure to the fields of engineering and orthopedic surgery.

Alyssa Kovacs, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, was impressed by the one-day program.

“I thought the experience was great. It definitely changed my mind about what I want to do.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor working in a hospital … but, I didn’t think I wanted to go into ortho surgery. I never really thought about ortho surgery until The Perry Initiative.

“I really don’t know to explain it: It clicked something inside,” the high school junior said, in an interview after completing the program.

“It was a great experience, and it definitely changes how you see things,” Kovacs added.

Erin Sinnott, a senior at Sunlake High School, also gave high marks to the program.

“It was amazing. I wasn’t really expecting so much when I walked in,” Sinnott said.

“At first they showed us what we were doing, then we broke off into small groups, and we got to do it all by ourselves,” she said.

The experience has inspired her to consider the possibility of becoming an orthopedics surgeon, she said.

Published December 13, 2017

SAC All-Conference football teams announced

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The Sunshine Athletic Conference All-Conference football teams were recently announced for the 2017 season.

Wiregrass Ranch defensive back Jordan Miner was named 2017 Defensive Player of the Year for the Sunshine Athletic Conference. Miner, a Penn State University commit, tallied 39 tackles, four interceptions and five passes defensed. (File)

Selections were made by high school coaches for both the East and West Division, reflecting Pasco County’s 14 public high schools.

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

SAC East All-Conference Teams
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School (9-3; 4-2 district)
Coach of the Year: Nick Carroll, Zephyrhills
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Charles Harrison, Zephyrhills
Defensive Player of the Year: DB Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch

First-Team
Offense:​
QB – Charles Harrison, Zephyrhills, senior

RB – Elijah Thomas, Zephyrhills, senior

RB – Dexter Leverett, Wesley Chapel, senior

WR – Ja’quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, junior

WR – Tre’Pavis Mobley, Zephyrhills, junior

OL – Cameron Tucker, Zephyrhills, senior

OL – Seth Petty, Wesley Chapel, junior

OL – Corbin Doers, Land O’ Lakes, junior

OL – Tyler Estep, Sunlake, senior

​OL – Zach Williams, Pasco, senior

TE – Devaun Roberts, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Utility- Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, junior

Defense:
DL – Sterlin Williams, Zephyrhills, senior

DL – Matt Geiger, Land O’ Lakes, senior

DL – Chaz Neal, Wesley Chapel, senior

DL – KaSean Ridgel, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

LB – Dylan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

LB- Austen Wittish, Wesley Chapel, senior

LB – Adam Jarvis, Sunlake, senior

LB – Myron Bloom, Land O’ Lakes, junior

DB – Malik Melvin, Wesley Chapel, senior

DB – Dexter Leverett, Wesley Chapel, senior

DB – Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

P – Hayden Wills, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

K – Daniel Chacon, Zephyrhills, junior

Second-Team
Offense:
QB – Grant Sessums, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

RB – Adrian Thomas, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

RB – Kyle Leivas, Land O’ Lakes, junior

WR – Darrion Robinson, Pasco, sophomore

WR— Cartrell Strong, Zephyrhills, junior

OL – Alex Sherman, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

OL – Justin Collier, Land O’ Lakes, senior

OL – Nkem Asomba, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

OL – Ethan Vest, Zephyrhills, junior

OL – John Alford, Zephyrhills, junior

TE – Tylor Winn, Land O’ Lakes, senior

Utility – Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Defense:
DL – Xavier Arroyo, Land O’ Lakes, senior

DL – Samuel Bergeron, Zephyrhills, junior

DL – Miguel Hernandez, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

DL – Matt Severson, Wesley Chapel, senior

LB – Nick Gaziano, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore

LB – Zac Masci, Zephyrhills, senior

LB – Cameron Lee, Wiregrass Ranch, junior

LB – Cameron Smith, Pasco, senior

DB – Nate Howard, Land O’ Lakes, junior

DB – Daniel Biglow, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

DB – Kwesi Littlejohn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

P – Daniel Chacon, Zephyrhills, junior

K – Fletcher Martin, Wiregrass Ranch, senior

Honorable Mention: FB/LB Nathan Miller, Cypress Creek, sophomore

Published December 13, 2017

Local high schools shine at state swim meets

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The 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Swimming & Diving Championships wrapped up its meets across all four classes on Nov. 11.

Land O’ Lakes High School shined in the Class 2A swim meet on Nov. 3 at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center in Stuart. The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams). (Courtesy of Brian Vaile)

Among local schools, Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake displayed the strongest showings at the state event, held at Sailfish Splash Water Park in Stuart.

The Sunlake High School girls team placed fourth (out of 48 schools) in the Class 3A meet, marking the highest finish of any team in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The showing yielded six state medals and six school records.

Seahawks sophomore Chloe Grimme exhibited perhaps the most impressive performance, placing first in the 50 free (23.11) and second in the 100 free (51.18), earning All-American honors.

Grimme also teamed with Tori Eurell, Elise Ballash and Hanna Barton win the 200 free relay (1:36.88). She, too, teamed with Eurell, Barton and Audrey Ballash to finish third in the 200 medley relay (1:48.13).

Other Seahawks highlights included Elise Ballash’s seventh-place finish in the 100 breast (1:06.10) and Audrey Ballash’s 11th-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:09.91).

On the Sunlake boys side, sophomore Dominic Ortanez placed fourth in the 50 free (21.63), and sophomore Jay Jay Fonnotto placed 19th in the 100 fly. His time of 53:43 is a school record.

Sunlake High’s swim and dive program had several strong performances at the Class 3A state meet, including a fourth place finish by the girls team, along with strong individual performances on the boys side. Pictured front, left: Jay Jay Fonnotto (sophomore) and Dominic Ortanez (sophomore). Pictured back, from left: Coach Lorin Macdonald, Elise Ballash (junior), Audrey Ballash (sophomore), Alex Sprague (freshman), Hanna Barton (junior), Tori Eurell (sophomore), Chloe Grimme (sophomore) and Coach Shelly Koutras. (Courtesy of Shelly Koutras)

Land O’ Lakes High School, meanwhile, thrived in the Class 2A swim meet.

The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams).

Two-time defending state champion Jabari Ramsey earned his third straight gold medal in in the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 56:11.

The Land O’ Lakes senior became the first boy swimmer from Pasco County, and just the fifth from the area, to win three straight titles in the same event.

He tied former Mitchell standout Devin McCaffrey for the most career individual titles by a North Suncoast swimmer with three.

The hardware didn’t end there for Ramsey. He teamed with Patryk Pilkowski, Zachary Davis and Zuri Ramsey to win the 200 medley relay in 1:35.97, smashing last year’s school record of 1:39.09 — becoming the first ever Pasco County relay team to win gold at the Class 2A state championships.

Along with Jabari Ramsey, Pilkowski reached the podium as an individual with his third-place finish in the 100 backstroke. His mark of 51:75 broke the previous school record by a full three seconds.

On the girls side, junior Taylor Ward earned a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 free (1:50.27) and the 500 free (4:56.57).

Ward also teamed with Romina McCloskey, Margarita Czupryn and Ashley Schrader for third in the 200-yard free relay (1:39.71) and fourth in the 400 free relay (3:38.54) — both school records.

Another school record was set by McCloskey in the 100 free (53:07). The individual time was good enough for an eighth-place finish at states.

The FHSAA championships wrapped up an otherwise notable season for the Gators, historically one of the county’s top high school swim programs.

Both boys and girls squads won district and Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, and finished runner-up at regionals. The conference titles marked the 17th straight for the boys team and ninth straight for the girls.

Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area with teams or individuals represented in the state meet were: Academy at the Lakes, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wesley Chapel high schools.

2017 FHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships results:

Class 4A
Boys

Steinbrenner High School (22nd place—26 points)

Notable(s): Kyle Stoker finished seventh in the 200 free (1:42.67) and with teammates Max Martino, A.J. Harkness and Bradley Stoker 11th in the 200-yard free relay (1:29.81)

Girls

Steinbrenner High School (14th place—63 points)

Notable(s): Freshman Lexie Mulvihill placed second in the 50 free (23.16) and with teammates Justine Answeeney, Taylor Holmes and Mackenzie Hall fifth in the 200 free relay (1:38.16) and ninth in the 400 free relay (3:36.83)

Class 3A
Boys

Sunlake High School (25th place—24 points)

Girls

Sunlake High School (fourth place—131 points)

Freedom High School (10th place—86 points)

Notable(s): Sophomore Abigail Leisure finished fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:07.35), third in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.30) and with teammates McKaley Goldblum, Genevieve Clark and Hannah Labohn seventh in the 400 free relay.

Class 2A
Boys

Land O’ Lakes High School (10th place—92 points)

Girls

Land O’ Lakes High School (fifth place—114 points)

Wesley Chapel High School (29th place—23 points)

Notable(s): Senior Brooke Duncan placed fifth in the 50 yard free (24.52)

Class 1A
Girls

Academy at the Lakes (23rd place—24 points)

Notable(s): Freshman McKenna Smith placed fourth in the 100 free (51.10)

Published November 22, 2017

Land O’ Lakes High head football coach resigns

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Land O’ Lakes High School’s varsity football program will have a new leader in 2018.

Brian Wachtel, the Gators head coach since 2011, stepped down following the team’s final regular season game on Nov. 3 — a 36-6 win over Fivay High School.

Wachtel, 39, announced his decision to principal Ric Mellin prior to the game.

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Michael Frump said the school will advertise the coaching vacancy after the Thanksgiving holiday

Brian Wachtel has stepped down as Land O’ Lakes High’s varsity football coach. A search for his replacement will begin after the Thanksgiving break. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

The Gators finished the 2017 season 4-5 overall, with a 1-3 district mark.

Wachtel’s entire seven-year run offered mixed results.

He posted just one winning season (8-2 in 2013) and a combined 25-42 record — including an 0-10 mark in 2011 where games were forfeited as a result of an ineligible player.

The Gators also failed to register a victory over rival Sunlake High School in the annual “Butter Bowl” during that period.

Wachtel came to Land O’ Lakes with considerable fanfare in 2011, after posting a 13-7 record in two seasons at Mitchell High School. His career as a coach began nearly 15 years ago as an assistant at his alma mater River Ridge High School, where he quickly rose up the ranks in the profession.

Land O’ Lakes historically has fielded one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches John Benedetto and Matt Kitchie.

However, the recent success of other programs in the county and an ever-challenging district made winning consistently a tall task.

While the Gators win-loss column left much to be desired, Wachtel and his staff mentored several athletes who advanced to the college ranks, at the NCAA Division I, II and III, and NAIA levels. Among them is Samford University’s Shaheed Salmon, a preseason FCS All-American who’s quickly developed into one of the nation’s most productive linebackers.

Additionally, Wachtel this year coached five players who’ve been selected to the Pasco County Senior East-West Classic—wide receiver Taylor Winn, offensive tackle Justin Collier, offensive guard Guston Farr, defensive tackle Xavier Arroyo and linebacker Matt Geiger.

Projecting forward, the Gators next coach should have budding talent to work with — on both sides of the ball — in 2018.

Leading rusher Kyle Leivas, who tallied 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, is expected to return for his senior season, teaming up with a promising quarterback Ethan Forrester, who will be a junior next year.

And, that’s not all.

The Gators defense is expected to return its top three tacklers in linebackers Myron Bloom (76 tackles, two sacks) and Clayton Hendriksen (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks), and safety Nate Howard (66 tackles, one interception).

Published November 15, 2017