The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Sunlake High School

Weapon report put Sunlake High on lockdown

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The beginning of the holiday weekend was a stressful time for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and administrators at Sunlake High School after a reported student carrying a weapon put the campus on lockdown Friday morning.

Sunlake principal Steve Williams worked to keep the public informed what was happening throughout the morning through Twitter, and posted on the school’s Facebook page later that while an unidentified student was taken into custody by deputies, no weapon was found on campus.

“In an abundance of caution, we began a thorough search of the campus to ensure the student did not give the weapon to another student, or attempt to hide it on the campus,” Williams wrote on Facebook. “Once we were sure that the campus was safe, we moved out of lockdown and finished the day.”

Earlier in the day, a student reported to a school staff member that another student was in possession of a weapon. That immediately put the school into lockdown, and administrators brought in the sheriff’s office, which started an investigation, Williams said.

Although safety precautions were made, Williams emphasized to parents that there was no evidence that a weapon was actually at the school, and that everyone “remained safe throughout the situation.”

“I wish to commend the students, staff and parents of the Sunlake community for their patience and professionalism during this stressful situation,” Williams wrote. “In addition, I want to thank the Pasco sheriff’s office for their efforts today. They were highly professional, and we appreciate our partnership with them.”

Classes are expected to resume as normal on Sept. 2, and no Friday night or weekend events were affected by the lockdown, Williams added.

Technology, band march to new fundraising beat

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Bake sales, car washes, spaghetti dinners. There’s so many traditional ways to raise money for a good cause.

But when the Wiregrass Ranch High School percussion program decided it was time to transform from a strong winter drum line to a premier one, they realized their efforts to raise $25,000 would have to be far from traditional.

The Wiregrass Ranch High School marching band’s drum line practices after school with players like, from left, Alex Dabrow, Robert Rodriguez, Ashleigh Hans and Sam Ryan. The line is raising $25,000, so that they can keep playing after marching season ends in November. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
The Wiregrass Ranch High School marching band’s drum line practices after school with players like, from left, Alex Dabrow, Robert Rodriguez, Ashleigh Hans and Sam Ryan. The line is raising $25,000, so that they can keep playing after marching season ends in November.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“I had to recreate our fundraising strategy a little bit,” said second-year band director Patrick Duncan. “Our families were just selling to each other, and it didn’t do us any good when mom and dad were just looking for the same coworkers all the time, asking if they can buy this, or if they can buy that. At a certain point, they are not going to buy, and parents get really turned off from fundraising.”

A lot of money nowadays is being raised online, through crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Duncan and his team, however, chose GoFundMe, a site that has raised more than $400 million for various fundraisers since its launch.

Unlike Kickstarter, GoFundMe will fund a campaign, even if the financial goal is not met. And unlike Indiegogo, the band would not have to wait for a campaign to end before they can start withdrawing money.

That means once Wiregrass Ranch’s band raises $900, for example, it could buy a set of low-octave crotales. A little more than $5,000 would be just enough to pay for a studio vibraphone.

“They don’t penalize you for taking out money early,” Duncan said. “And if you don’t meet your goal, you can keep the money raised, and continue to try and raise more funds until you get what you need.”

The money will purchase 14 sets of instruments including three vibraphones, a marimba, two crotales, a snare drum, and four pairs of marching cymbals. These instruments will let the percussion line expand from its current 15 to 18 during marching season, to more than 30 in the wintertime as part of an indoor percussion line.

It would be the area’s second indoor percussion line, joining the existing one at Sunlake High School.

“Our percussionists basically don’t have a performance avenue after marching season ends” in November, Duncan said. “By doing this line, we have something that can join with our winter guard, and it’s very musically engaging. There are some really fast-moving lines, and it’s always based on some kind of concept, some kind of story. It’s like something you might see in a performing arts center.”

Duncan already has percussionists ready to join the line once the instruments are bought, and some of his other band members — even those in the wind instruments like trumpets and tubas — have expressed an interest in broadening their musical horizons.

The indoor drum line would perform at area events, including competitions in Plant City and Daytona Beach — the latter an event that typically draws more than 3,000 people.

Duncan wants the new line to start this school year, but to make it happen, he would have to have auditions right after the Thanksgiving break, with first rehearsals set for just after Christmas. While he could get the line together with just half the money he wants to raise, Duncan is really hoping the community will pull through and help put Wiregrass Ranch’s musical program on the map.

“We have too many percussionists right now, which is a good problem to have,” he said. “You have them going in and out during performances so that they can all get a chance to play, and sometimes you even double up parts so you can include more people. But that doesn’t always much musical sense, as that’s not the way the composer intended for it to be played.”

As of Monday, the band has raised a little more than $400 in the campaign. Most of the donations have been in the $25 range, although GoFundMe is capable of accepting larger contributions.

“We started this in hopes that we can find some people who are interested in giving back, and giving to a cause,” Duncan said. “This will give a lot of students the opportunity to get that performance time in their spring semester, and it’s something audiences will not want to miss.”

Donate right now to the Wiregrass Ranch High School percussion program. Visit GoFundMe.com/WiregrassPercussion.

Published August 27, 2014

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‘Concept College’ helps make college dreams a reality in Pasco County

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In some Pasco County families, attending college after graduating high school is almost a given. There’s money, opportunity and plenty of options for a student to continue their education.

But in others, college seems like a far-fetched dream. Even before they graduate high school, those students know that the opportunity isn’t there, and that makes it hard to focus on good grades and pursuing whatever options might exist.

Lauren Rowold, a Sunlake High School graduate who is registered for classes at Pasco-Hernando State College later this month, credits the school’s Concept College program for answering questions and making the transition to college easier. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Lauren Rowold, a Sunlake High School graduate who is registered for classes at Pasco-Hernando State College later this month, credits the school’s Concept College program for answering questions and making the transition to college easier.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“Their parents are like, ‘Well, we don’t have money for this,’ so they’re like OK, there’s no point,” said Lauren Rowold, who graduated from Sunlake High School earlier this year.

Rowold wasn’t one of the students who had given up hope. Unlike some of her peers, she made sure her senior year was spent getting her grades up and preparing for a college career. She also took part in Concept College, a program implemented by Pasco-Hernando State College, designed to help at-risk youth and disadvantaged high school students explore and obtain college opportunities.

Rowold was one of about 600 students per year who participate in the program, which takes them on campus, gives them a firsthand look at college life, answers questions, helps with applications, and explores scholarship opportunities.

Concept College provides some optimism for young people who think college is beyond their grasp, said Maria Hixon, PHSC’s director of development.

“This is really targeting students who need assistance to help make them believe that college is possible for them,” Hixon said. “Sometimes without that direct outreach and personal attention, they kind of fall through the cracks.”

Guidance counselors at the high school level identify juniors and seniors who might be in danger of falling through those cracks and could benefit from the program. Students who are disabled, pregnant, or have discipline problems or economic disadvantages, are among those who might qualify. An advisor from the college then visits the high school to provide confidence-building exercises, and those who join the program schedule a visit to either the Dade City or New Port Richey campus that normally lasts more than two hours.

On campus, students tour the school, ask questions and take assessment tests. They also learn about the admissions process, degree paths and financial aid.

Concept College also helps students take their first steps toward attending college, HIxon said. The program helps them with the application process, including paying their $25 application fee. It’s a small amount, but it can make a difference, she said.

That’s not the only financial assistance, however. Participants can apply for scholarships, which vary each year based on how many students enroll and apply, and how much financial support the program gets.

The dollar amount usually ranges between $500 and $1,000 per year, Hixon said. At a school where a 12-credit, full-time schedule costs around $1,100, it can make a transition into college smoother for those who see the cost as a significant obstacle.

Over the years, the program has reached every high school in Pasco County and a couple in Hernando County as well. And it’s all done on a budget of around $10,000 per year.

The program relies on private donations to keep going, Hixon said, with Wells Fargo and the Tampa Bay Rays standing out as major contributors this year. The baseball team presented the school with a $5,000 donation this summer as part of their Rays Baseball Foundation Community Grant Program.

“For what it costs, we do a lot with very little, and it yields a lot of impact for the students,” Hixon said. “It’s a wonderful program.”

And Rowold agrees. After participating in Concept College, she enrolled at PHSC, and will begin pursuit of her associate’s degree in just a couple of weeks. After graduation she plans to enter the medical field.

The program was helpful, Rowold said, and could impact even more students by reaching them earlier so they can be motivated to improve their grades and prepare for a chance they didn’t know they had.

And while she’s excited about starting college, she’s not really nervous. Rowold said she was prepared well by Concept College, and everything was explained to her before she enrolled.

“It answered all my questions,” Rowold said. “I always had questions about it, but I didn’t know who to ask. I felt like I learned a lot.”

Published August 20, 2014

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Another winning lottery ticket sold locally

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Just days after a Lutz woman claimed a $1 million prize from a grocery store in Lutz, a Publix Super Market near Sunlake High School is boasting an even bigger lottery prize.

A Riverview man purchased a Flamingo Fortune scratch-off game ticket from the Publix, located at 18901 State Road 54 in Lutz, and won $3 million.

John Opliger, 35, chose to receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $2.3 million, while Publix earned a $6,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket.

Tickets for Flamingo Fortune cost $20, and offers more than $150 million in total cash prizes, Florida Lottery officials said. That includes six $3 million prizes, with five of them now claimed.

Last week, a Lutz woman won a $1 million prize from a scratch-off ticket she purchased at the Winn-Dixie at 18407 U.S. 41 in Lutz. Yu Lin said she won the prize just in time to celebrate her birthday.

Scratch-off games account for nearly 64 percent of overall lottery ticket sales, officials said. It generated more than $640 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund in the past year.

Browning, Sunlake eye district title in 2014

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Sunlake High School has come a long way since head coach Bill Browning led the Seahawks onto the field for their inaugural season back in 2007.

They started out by losing 21 out of their first 22 games, and didn’t win a district contest until their third season.

Running back Nathan Johnson, left, and linebacker Austin Yeloushan will be key to Sunlake’s fortunes in 2014. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Running back Nathan Johnson, left, and linebacker Austin Yeloushan will be key to Sunlake’s fortunes in 2014.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Now they’re enjoying a run, which includes two playoff appearances and just five regular season losses in the past four years. They have playoff appearances, plenty of wins, and a reputation as a tough team to beat in Class 6A-District 6.

But something’s missing.

In all that time, the Seahawks have never won a district title. Three times in their history — including last year — they lost just one game during the regular season, but that game was to the eventual district champion.

And the players want that title for themselves in 2014.

“We’re planning on doing that this year,” said Austin Yeloushan, a senior who plays middle linebacker and tight end. “We’ve been working hard in the weight room.” The team also got in a good deal of game experience against quality opponents at a recent football camp at Stetson University, he said. Those performances give Sunlake confidence heading into their first game, an Aug. 29 road tilt against the talented Pasco Pirates.

While it’s not the only thing on his mind, Browning also wants to see a district title on the team’s resume.

“It’s missing right now, but it really just provides more motivation for us,” he said.

Since last year’s losses were so close — the total time remaining when their opponents took the lead was less than one minute for both games combined — Browning feels the Seahawks are on the right path.

To continue, Sunlake will have to overcome some heavy losses due to graduating seniors. Their defense will be retooled, with nine out of last year’s 11 starters gone from the team.

But Yeloushan, one of the two remaining starters from last year’s defense, believes the changes in personnel won’t hold them back. In fact, he expects them to surprise their opponents with their ability once the games start, and that includes contributing on the scoreboard.

“I think a lot of defensive touchdowns are going to happen this year. We have a lot of playmakers,” Yeloushan said.

Sunlake’s running game should continue to be a strong point, with star running back Nathan Johnson returning for duty. Johnson is ready to build on last year’s successful season — in more than 250 attempts, he lost just one fumble. But Browning believes a good running game is about more than a skilled runner in the backfield.

“He’d be the first one to tell you that the offensive line will be key, of course, in determining the kind of season he has,” Browning said.

Turns out, that’s exactly what Johnson said.

“I love my offensive line. I had 1,500 yards last year, and I couldn’t have gotten any of that without them,” he said.

While the line lost two starters from last season, Johnson believes their replacements are actually better players, and is excited to see what they can accomplish in 2014.

While Sunlake might be considered a run-first team, Browning said they have enough skill at quarterback and receiver to avoid being one-dimensional. The team will welcome back quarterback Dayton Feidon, who went down with an injury last October.

The coach also expects big things from returning receiver Nick Valdes, who has had an impressive offseason.

While Browning can look back at his tenure at Sunlake and note the considerable progress, it’s not in his nature to be happy just winning a lot of games and having a respectable finish each year.

“You always want to take it to the next step,” he said. “As a coach and as a competitor, you’re never satisfied where you’re at.”

SUNLAKE SEAHAWKS
LAST YEAR: 9-2
3-1 in district play
Second place in Class 6A-District 6, lost in first round of playoffs

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Austin Yeloushan, middle linebacker/tight end
Logan Wolfe, outside linebacker and fullback
Nick Valdes, wide receiver

PLAYER TO WATCH
Nathan Johnson, running back
“He was our workhorse last year. Very rarely goes down on first contact. A physical football player.” – Coach Bill Browning

2014 Seahawks Schedule
8/29 – at Pasco
9/5 – River Ridge
9/12 – at Anclote
9/19 – Springstead
9/26 – Ridgewood
10/3 – at Mitchell
10/10 – at Wesley Chapel
10/17 – at Land O’ Lakes
10/31 – Fivay
11/7 – Zephyrhills

Published August 6, 2014

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In Print: Is living in Pasco but working in Hillsborough all that bad?

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It’s something it seems people hear all the time. There are a lot of places to live in Pasco County, but not really a lot of places to work.

That’s why so many people head south on Interstate 75, U.S. 41 and the Suncoast Parkway every morning, and local leaders are working hard to try and reverse that trend and lower commute times.

But not everyone thinks the daily commute is all that bad. Ken Littlefield, a former state representative who is now in a primary race for a spot on the Pasco County Commission, told an audience during a recent candidate forum that he’s not losing any sleep over the fact that Pasco residents typically work outside the county.

“A lot of people see 60,000 to 80,000 people leaving Pasco to go to work in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties as a negative. But I’m not sure about that,” Littlefield said. “It’s like they are working in the mine. They are bringing the gold back to Pasco, and they are spending that money here. When that money is spent here, there is economic growth that is taking place.”

How did county government and business leaders respond to Littlefield’s position? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker, now available in your driveway, at various places around the area, or in our free online e-edition by clicking here.

If that morning traffic jam is too much for you, then maybe that morning commute can be done by air.

Tom Warren piloted a hot air balloon from American Balloons over New Tampa on a recent Thursday morning. In the distance, another balloon company is giving passengers a ride. Neither balloon traveled far that day because there was very little wind. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Tom Warren piloted a hot air balloon from American Balloons over New Tampa on a recent Thursday morning. In the distance, another balloon company is giving passengers a ride. Neither balloon traveled far that day because there was very little wind. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The Land O’ Lakes company American Balloons offers near-daily trips into the skies above Pasco and Hillsborough counties, providing a breathtaking view that, well, can only be seen by riding in a hot air balloon.

Reporter B.C. Manion was soaring on a recent trip, where she learned a lot about what motivates others to take to the skies.

“It was so calm,” said Kathy Rizzo of Wesley Chapel. “I’m afraid of heights, and I wasn’t afraid at all. It wasn’t at all frightening. It was a very smooth landing.”

Get the full story on a voyage through the skies in the print edition of this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, leading off our brand new B Section. That’s right, your community paper is not only bigger in physical size this week, but it now has two sections.

Go get that paper right now, or if you can’t wait to run to the driveway, read our free online e-edition right here.

Finally, it’s been three months since the golf course at Plantation Palms in Land O’ Lakes shut down. Golfers are missing out on acres and acres of links, but homeowners that live in Plantation Palms are feeling the pinch as the once popular spot now begins to rot.

No one involved with the property — the owners, the bank who financed it, not even the homeowners association — is talking. But neighbors are, and they’re not happy.

“If you’re a golfer, it affects your way of life,” resident Patty Stach told reporter Michael Hinman. “But even if you’re not a golfer, it affects the value of your home. Who would want to buy into a community where the golf course looks like this?”

What does the future hold for the Plantation Palms Golf Club? Find out in the print edition of this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, or read it right now in our online e-edition by clicking here.

Oh, and are you ready for some football? We continue our preview of all the local gridiron teams this week from reporter Michael Murillo with the Sunlake Seahawks and the Zephyrhills Bulldogs.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

And see The Laker XL with our brand-new video!

Pasco and Hillsborough students improve test scores

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Students across Florida, as well as in Pasco and Hillsborough counties posted gains on statewide end-of-course, or EOC, exams.

Scores improved in all of the assessment areas in Florida, with the biggest gain being a 10 percent improvement in U.S. History.

Pasco has one of 13 school districts in the state that posted gains in all four EOC assessments, with its biggest improvement being an 8-point increase on the U.S. History assessment, Florida Education commissioner Pam Stewart reported.

The passing rate for Pasco students taking the test for the first time improved on all four assessments, improving by 2 percent in Algebra I; 2 percent in biology; 3 percent in geometry and 8 percent in U.S. History.

Hillsborough’s scores improved in two of the four assessment areas, with a 14 percent percentage gain in U.S. History and a 4 percent gain in Algebra I.

Pasco students outperformed the state in the percentage of students achieving a passing score or higher in 2014, except for Algebra I.

Some notable scores from Pasco schools include a 5-percent bump in the passing rate on the Algebra I assessment at Land O’ Lakes High School, a 7-percent gain by Wiregrass Ranch High School students on the Biology I assessment, and an 8-percent improvement on the same assessment at Zephyrhills High School.

Both Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass also posted big improvements in the passing rate on the geometry assessment. Wesley Chapel’s passing rate improved by 22 percent. Wiregrass Ranch boosted its passing rate by 13 percent. Students at both Zephyrhills and Sunlake high schools improved their passing rate by 6 percent, with Sunlake achieving a 73 percent passing rate and Zephyrhills boosting its passing rate to 60 percent.

Wesley Chapel principal Carin Nettles was delighted with her school’s results.

“I am thrilled about our scores,” she said. “We are very proud of the work our math department has done.”

The principal credits collaboration among faculty members during professional learning community meetings. Teachers are sharing “the best common lessons and assessments for our students,” she said.  Teachers also have provided tutoring to help their students succeed.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said in a release that because the scores “reflect what we are teaching in the classroom, end-of-course exams present a much more accurate picture of our students’ learning during this time of transition than do high-stakes tests” like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Published June 25, 2014

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Sunlake’s Skye Nichols signs on to acrobatics and tumbling in Connecticut

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Athlete signings are common for high school players. If someone excels at their sport, they often get a chance to continue competing at the next level.

Football, basketball, soccer and baseball are just a few sports where graduating seniors continue playing as college freshmen.

Skye Nichols takes part in a ceremonial signing with Sunlake principal Steve Williams, left, cheerleading coach Pennye Garcia and Nichols’ mother, Sheri. Nichols will enter Quinnipiac University with championship cheerleading experience, and she’ll use it to compete on the school’s acrobatics and tumbling team. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Skye Nichols takes part in a ceremonial signing with Sunlake principal Steve Williams, left, cheerleading coach Pennye Garcia and Nichols’ mother, Sheri. Nichols will enter Quinnipiac University with championship cheerleading experience, and she’ll use it to compete on the school’s acrobatics and tumbling team.
(Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Cheerleaders, however, are now becoming part of that group.

Skye Nichols, a captain for Sunlake High School’s state championship cheerleading team, will attend Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and compete for the school.

But technically, it won’t be cheerleading. The Bobcats have an acrobatics and tumbling team, and Nichols was recruited to be a member of the squad.

“I feel very blessed. That’s the only way I can describe it,” she said. “I only dreamt about it, and I still can’t believe it’s reality.”

The Bobcats do have a spirit squad, but Nichols isn’t planning on participating. That group performs more of the traditional cheerleading functions, but the acrobatics and tumbling team is part of a sport, which suits her better.

They’ll have a schedule where they square off against other teams in group and individual categories, and do extensive traveling to compete in different locations around the country.

While Nichols is excited to be part of the competition, she realizes it will mean a lot more work. Rigorous practices and weight training are just part of the schedule, and she’ll have to balance that with pursuing her studies in sports management.

But her cheerleading coach at Sunlake, Pennye Garcia, believes Nichols’ time as a cheerleader has her well-equipped to succeed.

“It’s her drive,” Garcia said. “When she really wants something, she will keep working at it.”

Nichols was a team captain, and was called upon to not only study technique and offer corrections, but also motivate her teammates when they were losing focus, Garcia said. Her ability to remain motivated while also motivating others helped separate her from less-driven athletes.

Nichols believes the leadership role helped her as well.

“I definitely think it gave me experience how to work with people, and how the best way in working with people is leading by example,” she said. “Also, being friends with them makes a big difference. If you’re just strict all the time, I feel like you kind of lose respect, but you’ve got to care about them to earn respect.”

But there’s also a physical aspect to cheerleading, and Garcia said it revolves around strength. As a base — someone who stays at the bottom of the formation and helps support others — Nichols needs good leg strength. Those physical skills helped her get recruited by Quinnipiac.

And while Nichols feels the school is a perfect fit for her, it wasn’t part of her original plan. Her first choice of school didn’t work out, and her path wasn’t shaping up the way she wanted.

But when she visited the Quinnipiac’s campus, she realized that the new opportunity was actually better than her planned one.

“Right when I went to the school I was like, this couldn’t have been any better for me,” she said. “It just felt so right.”

School also is important to Nichols, whose GPA is 4.05. She considers herself to be competitive and something of a perfectionist, and while that’s translated to success in the classroom and on the mat, she believes that self-confidence and hard work will help her face the coming challenges of a new city, new school and a new level of competition.

“I think anything you do that’s really new is a little nerve-racking, but I just believe in myself that I can handle it,” Nichols said. “I pushed myself really hard these four years, and I think that definitely conditioned me for the next four years.”

Published May 28, 2014

In Print: Graduation is here for Class of 2014

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When you pick up your issue of The Laker or Lutz News this week, you’re going to find something we look forward to sharing with you each and every year.

GraduateMomHugHC1405_X_300_C_YOur graduation section honors the thousands of seniors who will walk across the stage and accept their diploma, all as part of the Class of 2014. And we don’t leave any school out in putting together our special pull-out section which we hope you will keep and enjoy for many years to come.

If you want to share the graduation section with family and friends through the Internet, we put together a handy guide that will take you directly to the e-edition related to your graduate. Just click which school you’re looking for below, and we’ll get you where you need to go.

The list for Land O’ Lakes High School is the correct list for the Class of 2014. The list appearing in our May 28 print edition was incorrect. We have updated our e-edition to the proper group of students, after an inadvertent error by the high school when submitting its graduation list.

The Laker will republish the list in its June 4 edition, but will also print a special four-page graduation section that will be available to graduates and their families at the May 30 commencement.

Academy at the Lakes
Bishop McLaughlin High School
Freedom High School
Land O’ Lakes Christian School
Land O’ Lakes High School
Pasco High School
Steinbrenner High School
Sunlake High School
Wesley Chapel High School
Wiregrass Ranch High School
Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Zephyrhills High School

Graduation isn’t the only thing we’re talking about this week. Get all the rest of the news for your community right here online. You can find the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa edition of the paper by clicking here. For Land O’ Lakes and Pasco Lutz, click here. For Hillsborough Lutz and Odessa, click here. And for our East Pasco edition, which includes Zephyrhills and Dade City, click here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Sunlake trio has football in their future

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Last football season, the Sunlake Seahawks had a suffocating defense. They recorded four shutouts, and held their opponent to less than seven points three additional times, en route to a 9-2 record and a playoff berth.

Joe Jean-Baptiste, left, Ricardo Williams and Nick Larry take part in a ceremonial signing at Sunlake High School on May 16. All three will continue their football careers after graduation. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Joe Jean-Baptiste, left, Ricardo Williams and Nick Larry take part in a ceremonial signing at Sunlake High School on May 16. All three will continue their football careers after graduation.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Last week, three of their standout players got together to do a little paperwork.

Seniors Nick Larry, Joe Jean-Baptiste and Ricardo Williams participated in a ceremonial signing session to cement their college plans. Each of them will attend a different school, all on scholarship and with an opportunity to continue their athletic career in the collegiate ranks.

Even though head coach Bill Browning has been a football coach for 36 years — including his tenure at Sunlake, which began when the school opened in 2007 — seeing athletes commit to colleges and continue their careers never gets old.

“It’s something they work for and something they dream about, so it’s always exciting to see someone go on and get an opportunity that they’ve been working for,” he said.

All his athletes have worked hard, Browning explained. They have a rigorous practice and preparation regimen, and he feels that their program — being in Florida, which is known as a strong area for high school football — will serve the players well at the next level.

And the players who participated in the signing last week can’t wait to get there.

“It’s honestly a dream come true,” said Jean-Baptiste, who played safety for Sunlake.

He’ll attend Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and play for the Storm on a partial scholarship.

While he acknowledges the Seahawks had a strong defense, Jean-Baptiste also realizes that playing at the next level will include new challenges. Just as the speed of the game changed for Jean-Baptiste when he made the jump from junior varsity to varsity, he expects a similar increase in game speed in college.

To prepare, he plans to spend time watching game film and scouting opponents when he’s not studying criminal justice.

Larry will play football for Gattaca, a post-graduate team whose players attend Hillsborough Community College with an eye toward playing for bigger schools in their future. For him, attending college on a full scholarship validates the effort he put in to improve and excel during his high school career.

“It feels amazing. It just shows that everything I did, I did right. And all the work I put in, it shows that it pays off,” Larry said.

While the defensive tackle wants to take this time to improve and prepare for a football opportunity in the future, Larry doesn’t want to get ahead of himself. He’ll study sports management and make sure his grades are strong while he also focuses on football.

Williams also was part of the team’s excellent defense as a cornerback, but he also played wide receiver. But when he attends Peru State College in Nebraska on a partial scholarship, he’ll play for the Bobcats on the offensive side of the ball at running back.

And Williams believes that playing on defense in high school will help him when he suits up in college.

“As the cornerback, you have to have quick hips and you have to stay focused at all times,” Williams said. “And I feel like that if you translate that to a running back, those are really good features to have.”

He believes that his time playing defense will help him anticipate their moves and positioning, since he’s spent a lot of time thinking like a defensive player. When he’s not on the field, he’ll study nursing.

All three players are eager to get their college careers going, but their coach has some advice for the soon-to-be college freshmen: Savor the moment and focus on what’s important.

“Just work hard and enjoy the experience,” Browning said. “And the bottom line is, get the education.”

Published May 21, 2014