The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

University of South Florida

Several local athletes taken in 2021 MLB Draft

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Aspirations of playing professional baseball may soon become a reality for a handful of athletes from local high schools and colleges in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) 2021 first-year player draft spanned 20 rounds (and 612 picks) from July 11 through July 13.

The draft is held every summer by conference call among the 30 Major League clubs.

The clubs take turns selecting players in reverse order of their won-lost records at the close of the previous regular season.

Generally, a player is eligible for selection if the player is a resident of the United States or Canada and the player has never before signed a Major League or Minor League contract. Residents of Puerto Rico and other territories of the United States also are eligible for the Draft.

The basic categories of players eligible to be drafted are:

  • High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college
  • College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; and
  • Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed.

Representing the highest selection from the local community was Sunlake High alum Tommy Mace, now a fourth-year junior from the University of Florida.

Sunlake High product Tommy Mace has been an impactful right-handed pitcher for the Florida Gators baseball program the past four seasons. He was selected 69th overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2021 MLB first-year player draft. (Courtesy of University of Florida athletics department)

The imposing 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-handed pitcher was taken 69th overall by the Cleveland Indians — in Competitive Balance Round B between the second and third round.

The recommended bonus slot value for that lofty pick is just under $1 million, at $929,800.

If and when Mace signs, he’ll join another local product in the Indians organization — Gaither High product Oscar Mercado, who earned a call-up with the big league club in June.

Mace, 22, very well could’ve turned pro last year, but opted to return to school with hopes of further improving his draft stock.

This past season at Florida he posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 90.1 innings pitched, along with a 6-2 record.

Across his four-year college career, Mace compiled a combined 4.37 ERA, 1.279 WHIP and 258 strikeouts in 269.2 total innings pitched, with a 22-7 mark.

Mace was ranked as the No. 45 draft prospect, according to MLB.com’s 2021 pre-draft rankings.

He exhibits a four-pitch mix — fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. This includes a sinking two-seam fastball that is viewed as his top offering, touching 96 mph with cutting action, according to various scouting reports, including MLB.com.

MLB.com’s draft profile on Mace otherwise states: “Mace has gotten a bit bigger physically, which could help with consistency of velocity and stuff. He’s always been good at throwing strikes, but has been more a contact, ground ball kind of pitcher, rather than one who misses tons of bats. He did increase his strikeout rate while continuing to fill up the strike zone in 2021.”

Mace has been highly-regarded since his prep days at Sunlake, where he was a three-year varsity letter winner.

As a senior, Mace tallied a 1.29 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 77.2 innings, with an 8-2 record in 11 appearances — guiding the Seahawks to the Class 7A regional finals.

He won 19 games during his high school career, posting a combined 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 165.2 innings.

Mace was rated as No. 72 prep player in the class of 2017 by Perfect Game and No. 15 overall prep player in all of Florida — including the fifth-ranked, right-handed pitcher in the state.

Wharton High senior baseball standout Zach Ehrhard, left, won Hillsborough County’s 2021 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award on the basis of athletic, scholastic and community achievements. Ehrhard was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Also pictured here is Boggs, middle, and Ehrhard’s older brother, Drew, who also won the award in 2017. (File)

Among other accolades, he was named MaxPreps Second Team All-American and National High School Coaches Association All-Southeast Team.

Mace previously was drafted out of high school in the 12th round (347th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2017.

He, of course, didn’t sign with the Reds, instead opting to pitch for the Gators, which had then come off a 2017 College World Series crown — the first national championship in the program’s history.

Others drafted in later rounds
Mace was one several area players taken, albeit those in later rounds, on day three of the baseball draft.

Wharton High School senior Zach Ehrhard — an Oklahoma State University signee — was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round (367th overall).

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound switch-hitting shortstop batted .438 this season for the Wildcats, with three homers, 12 doubles, 29 runs scored and 21 RBIs, along with 26 stolen bases.

Ehrhard was this year’s recipient of the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award, which honors a high school baseball player in Hillsborough County on the basis of outstanding athletic, scholastic and community achievements.

Baseball talent runs in the Ehrhard family.

His older brother, Drew, received the same prestigious county award in 2017 and went on to play collegiate baseball at the University of Tampa.

Another area prep position player, Gaither High senior A.J. Graham, was taken with the first pick in the 18th round (523rd overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 6-3, 180-pound right-handed shortstop batted .346 with two homers, seven doubles, 18 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 78 at-bats across 23 games this season.

Also picked in the 18th round was Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette, landing 542nd overall to the Toronto Blue Jays.

This season the 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt senior led the Lions in innings pitched (45.0), wins (three) and strikeouts (53) to go along with a 5.80 ERA and 1.53 WHIP and a pair of complete games.

Burnette appears to have emerged in the inaugural MLB Draft League, a summer showcase for top draft-eligible prospects providing exposures to scouts, coaches and advanced baseball technologies.

Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of University of Texas athletics department)

Playing for the league’s Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio, Burnette posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.4 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched.

A Chicago native, Burnette transferred to Saint Leo from the University of Illinois this past season.

Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams was taken in the 19th round (559th overall) by the Kansas City Royals.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Odessa native starred for a Longhorns squad that had a third-place appearance at the 2021 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

The fourth-year senior led Texas with 20 doubles and was second with 12 homers, to go along with .295 average, 42 runs scored and 51 RBIs spread across 61 starts at third base.

Prior to college, Williams led Gaither to the 2016 7A state championship his senior year and was named Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American.

He was drafted out of high school in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners, but didn’t sign, opting for Dallas Baptist University and San Jacinto College before transferring to Texas.

Williams’ father, Reggie, played four MLB seasons with the Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

(Note: While slightly outside our coverage area, Fivay High/University of Mississippi product Gunnar Hoglund went in the first round (19th overall) to the Blue Jays. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander from Hudson was viewed as one of the draft’s most polished arms, but slipped slightly after having Tommy John elbow surgery in May.)

Robust draft history
It’s not uncommon for at least a few ballplayers from area high schools and colleges to be drafted each year.

In 2020, Steinbrenner High/Florida State University right-handed pitcher CJ Van Eyk went to the Blue Jays in the second round (42nd overall), and Wesley Chapel native/Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High/University of South Florida right-handed pitcher Carson Ragsdale went in the fourth round (116th overall) to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics department)

(Though slightly outside our coverage area on the west side of Pasco, Trinity native/Mitchell High catcher Jackson Miller went in the second round (65th overall) to the Reds.)

The 2019 MLB Draft also yielded a trio of area selections.

Land O’ Lakes High/St. Petersburg College second baseman Dustin Harris was selected in the 11th round (344th overall) by the Oakland Athletics; Pasco-Hernando State College/University of Tampa pitcher Tyler Beck was selected in 30th round (899th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in the; and Steinbrenner High/Mississippi State University pitcher Cole Gordon was selected in the 32nd round (958th overall) by the New York Mets.

Prior drafts yielded several community picks as well, including four in 2018 and six in 2017, respectively.

Locals picked in the 2021 MLB Draft

  • Sunlake High/University of Florida pitcher Tommy Mace (Cleveland Indians, Comp B, 69th overall)
  • Wharton High shortstop Zach Ehrhard (Boston Red Sox, 13th round, 376th overall)
  • Gaither High shortstop A.J. Graham (Pittsburgh Pirates, 18th round, 523rd overall)
  • Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette (Toronto Blue Jays, 18th round, 543rd overall)
  • Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams (Kansas City Royals, 19th round, 559th overall)

Published July 21, 2021

Zephyrhills welcomes new Main Street director

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Faith Wilson is off to a quick start — as the new director and events coordinator for Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.

In about a month’s time, the 32-year-old has helped relaunch the organization’s website, created a community interview series, increased social media engagement across various platforms, and streamlined membership and sponsorship packages.

She’s also planning the organization’s 17th annual Music & Motorcycles event, set for Sept.11, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Main Street Zephyrhills is a 501c3 nonprofit that generally facilitates new business, and organizes large events and parades within the historic downtown district — particularly along Fifth Avenue.

Faith Wilson (Courtesy of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.)

Events include Music & Motorcycles, Halloween Howl and Zephyrhills Christmas Parade, among others.

Wilson was introduced during a Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting June 28 at Zephyrhills City Hall.

She is a Lithia native, who lives in Lakeland with her husband and two children.

She graduated from Newsome High School, and studied liberal arts and architecture at Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida, respectively.

She officially began working for Main Street Zephyrhills on June 1, with a salary of $38,456.

Her role — as the organization’s only city-funded position —  consists of serving as an advocate and liaison for the downtown district with initiatives to bring economic growth and community connections. The role involves working closely with the Zephyrhills CRA and other groups.

The organization relies on donations, memberships and partner organizations to help fund projects such as public artwork, family friendly events and activities.

Wilson’s background is in retail management, having been an assistant store manager and corporate leadership team member at Stein Mart. She also served on the advisory board for USO (United Service Organizations) Tampa Bay.

Wilson assumed the Main Street position vacated by Paxton McCullough, who held the role from June 2020 to May 2021. Before that, the role was held by Anna Stutzriem, who resigned in March 2020 after more than two years on the post.

Wilson shared her vision for Main Street Zephyrhills and the city’s historic downtown, a subject broached by CRA Commissioner Lance Smith during the meeting.

“I see opportunity overall,” Wilson responded. She cited the potential for events, particularly markets because they draw the community out — something that was hampered by COVID-19.

“When people get out in the community and they shop local, they see their local friends, they see their neighbors out there, it really brings that bond and sense of community back together, and hopefully from that, (people) become inspired to continue to come downtown and support their local businesses,” Wilson said.

Building momentum for Zephyrhills historic downtown, particularly around Fifth Avenue, is a primary objective of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.

Describing herself as personable, as well as a person of action, Wilson said “I want the community to feel like they know me and that they can talk to me at any time.”

She has been keeping busy with Main Street functions.

Initial tasks included being a part of the well-attended Seventh Street Mural ceremony back in late May.

The vibrant mural, titled ‘Ocea,’ is located on the south-facing wall of 5210 Seventh St.

The outdoor event gave residents a chance to mingle with the mural’s artists, partake in refreshment, take pictures and spend time together in downtown.

“That was quite a success,” Wilson said. “It was positively received, and it was a nice community event, especially post-COVID, for everyone to get out and see what we’re doing in the Main Street sector.”

Wilson also has updated the organization’s social media platforms, ensuring presence on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, SnapChat and Instagram.

“I’m keeping up with all of that,” Wilson said. She also is “trying to cater to all age groups of the Zephyrhills community and let them know what Main Street is doing,” she said.

Wilson has been doing a livestream interview series, in which she dialogues with various Main Street members and business owners “to let the community get to know the people behind these organizations, so I think that’s going to be very helpful with connecting the community.”

The most recent interview piece featured Habitat for Humanity ReStores representatives, which can be found archived on YouTube.

Wilson’s “big project” has been the relaunch of a new Main Street Zephyrhills website, MainStreetZephyrhills.org.

She shared details of the website on the council chambers’ projection screen, during the meeting.

The fresh site includes several new user-friendly features and accessibility tools, such as shortcuts to information about dining, shopping, events, activities and service experiences throughout town.

There’s a detailed downtown Zephyrhills business directory, providing information including address, phone number and links to their respective websites.

Other highlights include a city events calendar and listing of upcoming Main Street projects and attractions.

There’s also a business entrepreneur resources toolkit that lists available vacant properties for lease, as well as how-to information about licenses, permits, loans, utilities, community connection opportunities and more.

The website is ADA-compliant, with accessibility tools to alter contrasts and text sizes, too.

Wilson worked closely on the project with The Social Connection — a Land O’ Lakes based marketing agency specializing in website development, social media and graphic/digital marketing, particularly for start-up companies and small businesses.

The website undertaking involved “many, many hours,” Wilson acknowledged.

Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., is a 501c3 nonprofit that generally facilitates new business and organizes large events in the city’s historic downtown district.

CRA Director Gail Hamilton, who serves as Main Street’s ex-oficio, attested: “She’s providing content and she’s having to pull teeth from everybody to get the content to put on there,” also noting that Wilson often has been tackling details, late into the evening.

Hamilton commended Wilson’s efforts.

“She hit the ground running with this (position),” said Hamilton, “so we are very excited about the future.”

Other city leaders came away impressed with Wilson’s presentation and overall work, over the  short time frame.

“I think she’s doing a great job, and I think we’re going to see Main Street grow and begin to flourish,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe.

CRA Commissioners also happily observed Main Street’s complete roster of volunteer board members — something that’s been a challenge for the organization in the past.

In fact, Poe pointed out the local Main Street chapter was “very close” to shuttering about a year ago, because there weren’t enough board members per state requirements for a period of time.

Besides Wilson and Hamilton, other key Main Street figures now include president Linda Kerns, vice president Devin Alexander, board members Antwon Gildon, Christin Bennett, Sarrah Vesselov and Grant Posner, treasurers Martin Harm and Keith Wolfe, and Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson.

“We’ve got a great mix of residents who live in the downtown neighborhoods who work and have businesses in the downtown area that are really committed to this,” Hamilton said.

Published July 14, 2021

Local novelist’s ‘Lake Roland’ was inspired by real case

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As a journalist, Charlie Reese knew how to ferret out the facts and crank out stories on tight deadlines.

As a novelist, Reese — that is, C. Roloson Reese — has delighted in letting his imagination run wild to create just about every detail in his first published book, “Lake Roland.”

The Lutz author didn’t imagine every single detail because the novel is based on a two-paragraph news wire story that Reese read about eight years ago.

Charlie Reese, who published his novel, ‘Lake Roland,’ under the name C. Roloson Reese, is a former journalist and current businessman who lives in Lutz. The novel’s inspiration came from a two-paragraph news wire story the author had read, involving a missing persons case. (Courtesy of Charlie Reese)

The news wire account was about a 45-year-old mystery involving missing persons — solved essentially by accident.

“It just stuck with me — longer than any other newspaper story I’ve ever come across as a reporter or as a reader,” Reese said.

He decided to give that tiny nugget of a story a life of its own.

“I felt moved to tell the story, the back end of the mystery, as best as I could imagine it,” Reese said.

“Once I started reflecting on it, it wouldn’t let go of my imagination. So, I sat down and I wrote the first chapter.

“The real-life characters, they disappeared around high-school age — at least a couple of them,” Reese said.

The novel is told from the vantage point of Tom O’Malley, who spent a lifetime dealing with the mysterious disappearance of his pal, Mark. They’d been inseparable.

In creating the story, Reese thought about how it would feel if his best friend from high school had gone missing.

“I just imagined what that would be like — what kind of a hole that would have left in my life,” Reese said. He explored how having that type of loss would affect the families and friends of the pair that went missing.

“That’s what started me on this particular book. I just felt called to flesh out the characters behind the story,” Reese said.

The novel begins before the actual disappearance.

“I wanted to build some background because, any story you cover as a reporter, there’s always a backstory. And, it’s quite an interesting backstory in many cases. And, we don’t really do it justice. We can’t. We’re limited by deadlines. We’re limited by space. And, we really can’t tell the story with as much passion or thoughtfulness, as we can — or we should, or is possible,” Reese said.

Novels don’t have those limitations.

The actual missing persons case in the news wire story occurred in Oklahoma.

Reese decided to set his story in Baltimore, where he grew up and went to high school, and where there actually is a Lake Roland.

“As I got to writing — which is really a creative exercise — I just felt so emotional at times. But I was also so alive with being able to create these characters and storylines.

“Although the book is not autobiographical, it is a collection of characters and people I knew over the years.

“Running through my mind were many of the people and characters I’ve met over the years. Their stories.

“We come across so many different people, in our travels, in our work, in our families.

“So, it’s real amalgamation of all of these different characters and people that I’ve met, and usually admired,” he said.

Once Reese started writing the novel, the work went quickly. He asked his wife, Judith, to read chapters and offer feedback during the process.

In essence, the book was finished in 2013 and Reese occasionally has revisited it through the years.

This spring, he decided it was time to give the novel a final edit and to publish it.

Although this is Reese’s first published novel, he’s been a writer — in some form or another — since childhood.

He began reporting stories in the Tampa Bay area when he was a student at the University of South Florida, writing for the Oracle. Then, he reported for The Laker and later became the editor of The Lutz News and the former Temple Terrace Beacon.

He went on to work in media relations and communications with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Institute for Business & Home Safety. He’s also been published in the former Tampa Tribune and in the St. Petersburg Times, before it became The Tampa Bay Times.

His love for writing dates back to childhood.

As a boy, he wrote poetry, which he read aloud to his family.

In college, he studied literature.

And, while he’s spent much of his career working with words, he said he’s learned more about the art of writing by reading great authors.

Being tuned in to people and places, is essential, too, he said.

“Observing and listening are probably the best things a writer can do,” Reese said. “That’s what poets do.”

“Lake Roland” by C. Roloson Reese, is available at Barnes & Noble Press (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lake-roland-c-roloson-reese/1139075421?ean=9781666262001).

To see a video about “Lake Roland,” visit https://www.facebook.com/211702412202894/videos/960288408037265.

 

Published July 14, 2021

Speakers address mental health needs

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Suicide prevention and partnerships between law enforcement and mental health providers were the focus of talks delivered in a Zoom Session, on May 11, hosted by Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center.

Sarah Shirina, licensed supervisor of behavioral health with BayCare Behavioral Health, shared her expertise on the topic of suicide prevention, while also discussing local services that are available to help people struggling with mental illness.

Sarah Shirina addressed suicide prevention during a speaker series hosted by Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of University of Saint Leo)

Shirina is the supervisor over BayCare Behavioral Health’s mobile response team in Hernando County.

She’s also an adjunct professor for Saint Leo University, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from the university.

She began by sharing national suicide data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Suicide, unfortunately, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming over 48,000 lives.

“Suicide was the second-leading cause of death in individuals, between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death, among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54,” she said.

“There were actually 2½ times as many suicides in the United States as there were homicides, in 2018.

“So, what does that look like for our state? In 2019, Florida had a total of 3,427 deaths by suicide.

“In Florida, suicide is the eighth-leading cause of death,” Shirina said, adding the age group of 55 to 64 is most affected.

Shirina shared information derived from a research project by BayCare Behavioral Health and the University of South Florida, focusing on suicide in the Tampa Bay region.

Hot spots have been identified in all five counties in the Tampa Bay area, Shirina said.

“Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas, unfortunately, are all ahead and have higher averages of suicide deaths than the state of Florida.

“You’ll see that all of Florida had a total of 15 deaths per 100,000. And Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas are all in the 20s (per 100,000),” she said.

“Suicide affects men at a much greater percentage than it does women.

The study found that from 2010 to 2016, the suicide rate for men was twice as great as it was for women, she said.

“As our age groups increase, our military population is at a greater risk to be affected by suicide,” she added.

One of the big conclusions of the research was that Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas bear a disproportionate burden of death by suicide, in comparison to the state and surrounding counties, Shirina said.

Another conclusion: These are the same counties that bear the burden of the opioid addiction crisis.

She also noted that “80% of people who died by suicide had never had an involuntary examination, also known as the Baker Act.

“This, to me, was an alarming statistic,” Shirina said.

Among those who had undergone a Baker Act examination, 60% of those who died by suicide did so one or more years after their involuntary examination.

The study also found that middle- and older-aged white men had the highest rates of suicide, and among those who died by suicide, many had military backgrounds.

The research showed that guns were the most common method of suicide by men in all five counties.

By comparison, in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, more women died by overdose than did by guns, Shirina said.

“So, what can we do to help those who may be struggling?” Shirina asked.

Safety planning can help.

“When we’re safety planning with someone, we’re identifying their warning signs, their triggers and their stressful events that could lead to a crisis. We’re discussing with that person what they can do, what coping skills they can use to feel better.

“We’re discussing their support network. Who can they call when they need help? Who can they lean on?

“If possible, we often use that support network, when we’re creating these safety plans,” she said.

“We talk about what they look forward to in the future. What is important to them and what is worth living for? This is a great reminder, when someone is having these deep thoughts, that there are things in their future that they look forward to, and really, what is worth living for?

“We give a copy of this plan to them and to their support system, if possible, and we encourage them to keep it somewhere safe, so they can use it when they’re feeling upset,” Shirina said.

Dawn Wever addressed efforts being made to help mentally ill people get the help they need, instead of being locked up in jail.

Dawn Wever, the second speaker during the session, is a practicing mental health counselor.

She’s been an instructor in Crisis Intervention Team training for a number of law enforcement agencies. She’s also been a presenter on the topic at state conferences, is a former board member for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hernando and has done considerable research on collaborations between law enforcement and mental health professionals.

One in five Americans are affected by mental illness in any given year, according to statistics from NAMI, Wever said. That equates to approximately 57.7 million Americans living with mental illness. Of those, just 41% will receive treatment in any given year.

Research also shows that the average length of time from initial diagnosis to the onset of treatment is 10 years, she said.

She shared the story of the Memphis Police Department Crisis Intervention Team, which in later years came to be known as the Memphis Model.

The model stemmed from a 1987 incident in which police officers were called to an area of public housing in Memphis, where a young man was threatening with a knife, she said. Police officers ordered him to put down the knife. He refused. Eventually, police opened fire and the man was killed, she said.

“The mayor of Memphis turned to local advocates from NAMI and enlisted police, community mental health professionals, university leaders, hospital administrators, church officials to find a new approach to working with persons with mental illness, who are in crisis,” she said.

The approach involves a 40-hour, weeklong training for officers, deputies, detention personnel and dispatch, as well, regarding the recognition and understanding of signs and symptoms of mental illness, and focuses on verbal, de-escalation techniques, said Wever, who holds a master of arts/psychology from Saint Leo University.

Encounters between police and the mentally ill began increasing after the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric facilities began happening in the 1980s and 1990s, she said.

The expectation was that community-based mental health care facilities would provide treatment to those individuals released from psychiatric hospitals. Instead, county jails have become the largest mental health facilities in the country, added Wever, who has been in private practice since 2012.

The Rand Corporation estimated in 2020 that 15% of the men and 31% of the women incarcerated across the country have a serious and persistent mental illness, Wever said.

According to NAMI estimates, at least 400,000 currently behind bars in the United States suffer from some type of mental illness, Wever added. The organization also estimates that 25% to 40% of all mentally ill Americans will be incarcerated at some point in their lives.

She told Zoom listeners about a mental health unit operated by the San Antonio (Texas) Police Department .

“That’s regarded as one of the best law enforcement-based mental health units in the country,” she said.

“It was established in 2008 and to date, they have maintained zero use of force in a mental health call for service,” Wever said.

Shirina and Wever gave the final two presentations during a Social Services Speaker Series, which began on April 13.

Besides being informative, the series was intended to give participants exposure to a wide range of career opportunities in the helping professions.

To find out more about Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center, email Derek Saunier, center director, at  or call 352-588-7451.

Warning signs of suicide

  • Increased alcohol and drug use
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Withdrawal from friends, family and community
  • Dramatic mood swings
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior
  • Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
  • Giving away possessions
  • Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
  • Saying goodbye to friends and family

Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If you or a loved one exhibits these behaviors, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 911.

If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional can help assess.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Suicide Myths
Sarah Shirina, licensed supervisor of behavioral health with BayCare Behavioral Health, discussed some myths about suicide during a recent Zoom presentation hosted by the University of Saint Leo.

Here’s an excerpt from what she shared:

Myth: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage suicide attempts.

Fact: Talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. Fears that are shared are more likely to diminish.

Myth: People who talk about suicide never attempt or die by suicide.

Fact: Talking about suicide can be a plea for help, and it can be a late sign in the progression toward a suicide attempt. Those who are most at risk will show other signs, apart from talking about suicide.

Myth: If a person attempts suicide and survives, they will never make a further attempt.

Fact: A suicide attempt is regarded as an indicator of further attempts. It is likely that the level of danger will increase with each further suicide attempt. Just because someone has attempted suicide previously does not mean they are no longer at risk of attempting in the future.

Myth: Once a person has suicidal intent, there is no way of stopping them.

Fact: This is so far from the truth because suicides can be prevented. People can be helped. Suicidal crises can be relatively short-lived. Immediate practical help, such as staying with the person, encouraging them to talk and helping them build plans for the future can avert an intention to attempt or die by suicide. Such immediate help is valuable at the time of a crisis, but appropriate counseling also will be needed.

Need help?
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255.
Call 2-1-1 for additional resources.

Want to help?
BayCare offers free Mental Health First Aid Training. To find out more, call 800-878-5470.

Published June 09, 2021

Social worker addresses rising youth mental illness

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As efforts continue to lessen stigma and discrimination regarding mental illness — the challenges have become even greater during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even so, there are ways to strengthen awareness and improve access to treatment and counseling for troubled youth and adults, according to Sativa Fisher, a social worker for the Hernando County School District.

Fisher was a featured guest speaker during an April 27 virtual social services event hosted by Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center.

Hernando County School District social worker Sativa Fisher (Courtesy of Mary McCoy, Saint Leo University)

Her talk was part of a speaker series for students and prospective students interested in “helping careers.”

Topics for the free online series were selected with the goal of having broad appeal to those interested in social work, education, criminal justice, psychology, and human services.

Fisher’s presentation focused on her work, the prevalence of youth mental health issues and the function of social workers in the public school setting.

The social worker emphasized just how “widely underestimated” mental illness is in the United States, particularly among teens and high school students.

She cited these statistics and figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey:

  • 19% of students nationwide considered suicide
  • 16% of students nationwide made a suicide plan
  • 9% of students nationwide attempted suicide
  • Notable risk factors for suicide ideation include being a non-Hispanic, Black female who identifies as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Fisher also shared various findings from Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit to address the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting overall mental health of all:

  • 9.2% of United States youth ages 12 to 17 cope with severe major depression
  • The state prevalence of youthwith severemajor depressive episodes ranges from 6% in Mississippi to 13.2% in Nevada (Florida stands at 10%).
  • The number of youth experiencing major depressive episodes increased by 121,000 from 2018 to 2019.

The social worker pointed to an “alarming” finding in her research cited from Mental Health America — youth experiencing major depressive episodes continue to go untreated.

Even among states with greatest access for youth, almost 50% of youth still do not receive the mental health services they need, according to the organization’s reports, Fisher said.

“It’s interesting how much of an issue mental health is, and how undertreated it is, even within our society today,” said Fisher, who obtained her bachelor of social work from Saint Leo University and her master of social work from University of South Florida.

Fisher also shared her thoughts about potential contributing factors regarding why suicide ideations and major depression have become so prevalent among American youth in recent years.

“We have many kids who have access to social media and are learning a lot more than they used to, and that’s become evident between both in elementary and middle school, and the things that they’re exposed to, they don’t know, developmentally, how to deal with it,” she said.

The pandemic hasn’t helped, either.

Fisher referenced data showing about 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health this past year, up from about 25%, pre-COVID.

Parents and caregivers are struggling “with everything that comes with being in this pandemic that we all have experienced,” she said.

The rising levels of stress, loneliness, depression, anxiety has all but “rubbed off” on children, Fisher said.

“I’ve heard more stories of families having friction, more arguments,” Fisher said. “(Students) just feel more anxious…and that shows up in their schoolwork, that shows up in their peer relationships, with their adult relationships.”

Social work delivers rewarding responsibilities
Fisher is one of 13 social workers in the Hernando County School District.

She started working this past school year, amid the pandemic.

Besides her educational background, Fisher joined the district equipped with real-world experience — having worked in internships in a hospital pediatric unit and residential program for adolescent girls.

Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center has an ongoing virtual social services speaker series focusing on social work, education, criminal justice, psychology, and human services. An April 27 seminar focused on substance abuse and mental health issues among youth in public schools. (File)

In her role, Fisher assists kids, families and the community at large. She strives to “make a difference in someone’s life.”

She also described the duties of a school social worker, which includes making referrals, doing evaluations and completing behavior assessments. It also involves problem-solving through multi-tiered system of supports, counseling, teen parenting education, substance abuse education and more.

“It’s so much,” quipped Fisher, who also has started completing the supervision requirements to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

She detailed how school social work has evolved from focusing on attendance and truancy issues to being more involved with students who have mental health and behavioral issues.

Today’s school social worker reaches out to parents of students who are undergoing major behavioral issues, gathers information on their home life, and offers potential solutions and sources of help.

Fisher put it like this: “Sometimes, parents don’t even know the resources available to them, so if they have a student who’s having major behavior issues and they don’t understand why, maybe we’ll talk a little bit about that. Some kids require a little bit more structure than other kids. Some kids require to be spoken to a little bit differently. Every child is different…”

School systems play an important role in helping bridge the mental health gap, she said.

“Many people will say, ‘Oh, it’s on the parents,’” Fisher said.

But, parents don’t always know about services and because school attendance is mandatory until age 16, school districts are in a good position to observe students who have mental health needs and can help direct families to resources, she said.

One of the satisfactions of her job is seeing a student make positive changes during the course of a school year, Fisher said.

“It’s not anything that I necessarily do, it’s the choices that they make. I just give them the information and the platform to express and explore,” the social worker said. “I have a couple of kids right now that I’ve been working with for several months, and they’ve turned their grades around, they’ve turned their peer relationships around, and that, I think, is the most rewarding.”

Published May 26, 2021

Strides on the track and in the classroom

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Cypress Creek High School senior Ashleigh Lacey will graduate as her school’s valedictorian, with a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA (and 4.6 weighted).

Armed with an Associate of Arts degree and Bright Futures scholarship, the accomplished student soon will attend University of South Florida’s (USF) Judy Genshaft Honors College with plans to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist.

The local teen’s aptitude, however, travels beyond the classroom.

She’s also a decorated varsity track athlete — boasting several Coyotes girls program records and milestones — while juggling a part-time restaurant job, to boot.

Long jump is one of Ashleigh Lacey’s strongest track and field events; she’ll compete in that at the state finals and she holds a school record of 5.28 meters. (Courtesy of Michelle Lacey)

She most recently qualified for the FHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships on May 8 at University of North Florida-Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville — after finishing second place in the 300-meter hurdles (46.78 seconds, school record) and third in the long jump (5.17 meters) at last weekend’s Regional 3-2A meet at Cypress Creek.

She also finished sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.86 seconds, school record) and seventh as a leg of her team’s 4×100-meter relay (50.42, another school record) at the regional meet.

A strong regional showing wasn’t Lacey’s only notable achievement this season.

On April 22, she claimed her first District 9-2A individual title — and set another school record — in the long jump (5.28 meters), defeating Hernando High sophomore A’Reginae White (5.19 meters).

As it stands, Lacey holds seven school records in track and field.

In addition to long jump, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles records and leg of the 4×100-meter relay, Lacey also has top marks in the 400-meter dash (1:04.56), 3,200-meter run (13:16.22), and high jump (1.45 meters).

She’s also known for becoming the first Cypress Creek girls track athlete to qualify for regionals, back in 2018, as a freshman.

“She’s littered through the record books,” Cypress Creek varsity girls track coach Steven Rivers said bluntly in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Lacey’s well-rounded success doesn’t come by accident.

Rivers compared Lacey’s “enormous work ethic” in athletics and academics to another one of his former pupils — Pasco High product Alfreda Steele, one of the nation’s top sprinters as a graduate student at University of Miami.

“She is an extremely hard worker,” Rivers said of Lacey. “She brings a very positive attitude to the team, and she’s that girl that constantly wants to work, ‘Can I do more?’”

So much so, Rivers often reminds Lacey to not overtrain in practice, and not be too hard on herself when she doesn’t eclipse a certain mark or personal record.

“With Ashleigh, she never feels that she’s done enough,” the veteran coach said. “I have to tell her, ‘The hay is in the barn, now you just have to eat it.’ I have to keep telling her, ‘You have to stop trying to chase it. Just go out there, clear your mind, and run.’”

Ask Lacey, and she’s actually prouder of her physical achievements than intellectual ones.

Though academics are clearly important, success in track and field “is something I have to work harder for,” Lacey said.

She observed: “School is something, I don’t want to say it comes easy to me, it’s something I never really had to super grind at. I study for it, I organize my stuff, I write my notes, I learn the stuff; but for track, it’s just been a bit of a journey, it’s pretty hard, like there’s sometimes where I’m not always going to be the best at it, and it’s kind of more challenging for me and that’s why I like it more. I put more dedication into it, because it’s more about my diet and weightlifting, too.”

Hoping to be a walk-on at USF
Understanding that she’ll likely be going pro in something other than sports, however, Lacey is poised to major in psychology at USF en route to pursuing a doctorate in psychiatry.

Lacey was inspired by AP Biology and AP Psychology, her two favorite high school classes.

Cypress Creek High School senior Ashleigh Lacey will compete in the 300-meter hurdles and long jump at the FHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships, on May 8 at University of North Florida-Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville.

“I loved them. Both were so interesting to me, and I was like, well, for a career, I might as well think of something I like to do and think is interesting, and I want to help people,” she said.

Lacey hopes her academic profile, and versatility and proficiency in so many events allows her to walk on to the USF women’s track & field team, an NCAA Division I program.

The standout athlete would appear to be a prime candidate to shine in the heptathlon, in which competitors take part in the same prescribed seven events (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin, and 800-meter run).

High school and AAU coaches have told Lacey as much, though she humbly admits she needs to practice javelin, in particular. “I think I need to work a little more at javelin before I can confidently say I can compete in it,” she said.

Rivers believes competing in track at the next level is well in reach, given Lacey “can do a bunch of different things.”

“The more you can do, the more of an asset that you can be,” Rivers said. “Walking on to USF, being able to do so many things, I’m sure they could possibly find a home for her, but where she would definitely improve (USF’s track and field program) is through her classroom work, their academic side.”

Lacey originally entered high school as a distance runner, competing in cross-country and endurance track events (800-meter, 1,600-meter, 3,200).

But, she experienced a change of heart competing in AAU summer events for Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track/Running Club, following her freshman year.

“I really didn’t like it,” Lacey said of long distance events. “I was like, ‘Maybe I need to try something else,’ because I really love the 300-meter hurdles and I was like, ‘I need to get more into sprinting,’ and then that’s when the heptathlon got brought up, and that’s when I started sprinting and I loved it way more than long distance.”

Lacey credits her abilities in hurdles and jumps to lower body strength and an offseason weightlifting program.

Moreover, her background in gymnastics vault has helped translate to long jump’s mechanics of run up, takeoff, flight and landing.

Lacey explained of the technique, “You have to have the same steps to get on the board so you don’t scratch or anything, because a lot of girls will be really good (with long jump), but they’ll scratch and they won’t score well.”

Lacey now hopes to conclude her prep career with a strong showing against Florida’s best at this weekend’s finals.

She last qualified for the state meet as a sophomore, in the 300-meter hurdles and long jump, finishing 21st and 22nd respectively. She acknowledged being “humbled pretty quick” that time around.

Come this weekend, she may be humbling others.

Published May 5, 2021

PHSC launches new women’s soccer program

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In a time where countless other colleges and universities nationwide have dropped athletics programs amid COVID-19-associated budget cuts and other reasons, Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is making plays to boost its sports offerings.

The institution added women’s soccer to its athletics roster beginning with the 2021 fall season in August. Home games will be played on the outdoor fields of the Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County, 3021 Sports Coast Way, in Wesley Chapel.

The school’s athletics department made the announcement official in a March 19 press release.

Former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell will coach the Pasco-Hernando State College women’s soccer program. Campbell, a Wesley Chapel resident, also played professional soccer for 16 years, mostly in England. (Courtesy for Pasco-Hernando State College)

The PHSC women’s soccer program will be a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA). It joins PHSC’s other intercollegiate athletics programs, known as the Bobcats, that include women’s volleyball, cross- country and softball, and men’s basketball and baseball.

Women’s soccer marks the local college’s first new sport since 2005 — when it brought on women’s cross-country, under head coach Jackie Wachtel.

Leading the upstart team is former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell, a familiar face and widely known figure in the soccer ranks. He’s also a longtime Wesley Chapel resident.

The English-born Campbell played professional soccer from 1996 to 2013, before serving as the assistant coach for the Rowdies from 2014 to 2015 and head coach from 2015 to 2018.

As a midfielder, Campbell played for several teams in England, including Leicester City of the Premier League, the top division of England’s football league system. He finished his playing career with the Rowdies in 2012-2013. He also was a member of the Scotland U21 national team in 1998-1999.

The decision to launch women’s soccer made sense for myriad reasons, including boosting enrollment, PHSC athletics director Steve Winterling explained to The Laker/Lutz News, in a recent interview.

The undertaking, which was three-plus years in the making, came with the blessing of PHSC senior vice president Dr. Bob Bade, who Winterling noted has a “very athletic-inclined” outlook.

Aside from being another avenue “to promote our college even more,” Winterling said, women’s soccer also provides more athletic participation opportunities for PHSC’s overwhelming female population, which represents about 61% of the student body.

Moreover, Winterling highlighted the popularity and surplus of high-level girls youth and high school soccer throughout Pasco County and the Tampa Bay region, plus the opportunity to house the program on the county’s east side in Wesley Chapel. (All of PHSC’s other sports programs are based on the West Campus in New Port Richey.)

“We’re hoping to keep young women in our area that want to continue playing soccer because there’s not a whole lot of opportunities for them,” the athletics director said.  “There’s a lot of talent out there and I think this is going to be exciting to keep some people close to home, where they can play a couple more years and maybe go on and play at a four-year (school), and that’s always the plan of our program here.”

Having a recognizable name in Campbell to lead the way seems to be another bonus to generate buzz for the program and school from the onset.

“Everybody knows the Rowdies,” Winterling said, “so if that doesn’t get you excited about soccer and somebody wanting to come and play at our college, I don’t know what would.”

Remaining logistical tasks for the program, the athletics director said, include finalizing a first-year budget, schedule, and equipment and uniform needs, as well as familiarizing Campbell with NJCAA rules, regulations and compliance protocols.

The team will offer 11 tuition-and-books scholarships to start, with another dozen or so walk-on players. Campbell will host a tryout for interested athletes on April 11 at 5 p.m., at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus.

As for style of play, players and fans can expect lots of action and high-scoring affairs, under Campbell’s tutelage.

The coach quipped, “I’d rather win a game 4-3 than 1-0, because, at the end of the day, the product you put out on the soccer field, you’re there to entertain, and if you give the players that freedom, that license to go express themselves, I think they’ll be really, really productive.”

He added: “I want to excite the players and excite the fans to come to watch. We like to play a possession-based game that makes it exciting for the fans. In my previous role as a head coach (with the Rowdies), we always scored lots of goals.”

A place to play, develop
PHSC’s women’s soccer program — like the school’s other sports — creates another pathway for athletes who want to play college ball, but might need more seasoning and maturity before advancing to the NCAA Division I or Division II ranks, such as the University of South Florida, University of Tampa or Saint Leo University, to name a few.

Campbell cited “alarming” dropout and transfer rates among college soccer players in their freshman and sophomore years at larger four-year schools for various reasons, such as unhappiness with lack of playing time and homesickness.

Campbell explained, “They leave home at a relatively young age. They leave for college at 18 (years old), they’re in a different environment for the first time, they’re not playing and it’s a relatively short (soccer) season…so if we can give them that platform for them to grow and develop, and then if they can go onto another school, we’ve done our job, not just sending them off as soccer players, but more rounded young women.”

Winterling himself started the PHSC baseball program back in 1991 and also coached at Florida College and Florida State University.

He likewise emphasized the impact of junior college athletics serving as a launch pad for underclassmen athletes to seamlessly advance to more prominent four-year programs.

The junior college level, he said, helps younger student-athletes who may otherwise “get lost” by larger classroom sizes and increased demands of a Division I or Division II program.

“I have not heard or talked to a student-athlete that has ever regretted going two years at the state college here and moving on,” he said.

“We want our student-athletes to get their AA (Associate of Arts) degree, enjoy two years of sports, if that’s what they so choose, and then if they want to continue and go on, we work hard to find them another place to play to finish out their bachelor’s degree.”

Women’s soccer might not be the only new sport coming to PHSC, meanwhile.

Part of the athletic department’s future plans include adding men’s cross-country and men’s soccer in coming years, Winterling said. “We want to add more sports down the road.”

Published March 31, 2021

Pasco has new director of building, construction services

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The Pasco County Commission has confirmed the appointment of Roy Mazur as the county’s new director of building and construction services.

In his new role, which takes effect on April 19, Mazur will receive an annual salary of $125,000.

A national search was conducted before Mazur was selected for the post, according to an agenda memo in the board’s backup materials.

“I’m ecstatic to be here. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. I just can’t wait to get going.” Mazur told the board.

Sally Sherman, assistant county administrator of development services, pointed to Mazur’s credentials and experience as key reasons he will be a good fit for the job.

She said the position is critical.

“We’re being presented with an unprecedented amount of work that is coming to us, as a branch,” Sherman said.

At the same time it is responding to greater demand, it also is trying to improve service delivery, she said.

Mazur has held positions at WRA Engineering, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Hillsborough County and Autodesk.

He is a Florida professional engineer, a certified planner and he holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Florida and from Florida State University, according to the agenda packet.

There’s no doubt the county’s building and construction services department has been busy.

Sherman pointed to some statistics contained in the agenda backup, as evidence of the amped up activity.

In calendar year 2020, the county had 5,741 residential single family permits, A 32% increase over the previous year.

It had 581 new commercial permits in 2020, a 16.7% increase over the previous year.

Published March 24, 2021

Paying it forward, through music

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For 35 years, Karen Bishop taught orchestra in the schools, working with kindergartners through high school seniors. She saw it all. Or, so she thought.

Nearly two years after her retirement — and the immediate realization that she “missed it terribly’’ — Bishop has organized a community orchestra that motivates her passionate musicians and helps worthy causes at the same time.

Karen Bishop, who directs the Play it Forward Orchestra, stands alongside Daniel Ramos. The group had a Christmas benefit concert to help Ramos, a violinist in the orchestra, who has cancer. (Courtesy of Karen Bishop)

The “Play It Forward Orchestra’’ is a 25-member group that adheres to its motto — “A group of beautiful humans making the world a better place through music.’’

Last July, Bishop called around, trying to assemble a few violinists for a driveway concert to benefit the medical needs of a former student. More than two dozen musicians showed up. There was no rehearsal, just some inspired music for the cars that drove by. Someone asked, “When are we doing this again?’’

It has been going strong ever since.

In December, the orchestra held a fundraising Christmas concert for one of its own, violinist and Steinbrenner High School senior Daniel Ramos, who has cancer. Drinks and snacks were served by the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation Fighters, a Steinbrenner group formed by Lexie Mulvihill, whose brother died of cancer last year.

The orchestra, open to anyone with high school or college music experience, includes current and former musicians from Blake, Gaither, Hillsborough, Steinbrenner, Hillsborough Community College, the University of South Florida, the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida.

“It’s all volunteer and people who are doing it for the love (of music),’’ said Bishop, who spent the last 12 years of her career at Martinez Middle School. “It has been so much fun. The people in the group are loving and caring. If you tell them, ‘We have something next week in Ybor City at 8 in the morning,’ they will be there.

Karen Bishop directs the Play it Forward Orchestra, during a driveway concert.

“I hope it continues to grow. They love practicing and performing. There are a lot of fundraising and benefits we can do to help out.’’

In turn, the orchestra has been a helpful experience for the musicians — even beyond their love of music and performing.

Just ask violinist Bryan Camus, 32. He was in the orchestra at Blake, a performing arts magnet school. He became a nurse practitioner and lost himself in that career, partially losing his identity in the process. Life’s stresses seeped in. He experimented with drugs, considered suicide and spent nearly a month in rehab.

When he heard from Bishop, who was his middle school teacher, Camus hadn’t played his violin for nearly four years.

“We went through all of the pieces, and Karen and I were both shocked at how well I was playing,’’ said Camus, now a nursing professor at Rasmussen University. “Music has saved me.

“Looking at my life, I had some trauma piled on top of other trauma. My career didn’t help. In nursing school, you learn to put your emotions aside to help others. But you break at some point. “Now I have found an outlet, my love of music, and I look forward to everything we do,” he said.

Members of the Play it Forward Orchestra take their cues from their director, Karen Bishop.

The group gathers for a weekly rehearsal and for events, as needed.

Camus said the level of music ranges from intermediate to advanced. The enjoyment level? Off the charts.

“The basis for this is having fun and raising money for people who need it,’’ Camus said. “I think we will continue to grow. When Karen wants something to happen, it tends to happen.

“This isn’t like a full symphony. It’s still a small group. We all enjoy each other and pick fun at each other. I am the oldest and half these kids are better than I am, even though I’m twice their age. But it’s a very welcoming, inclusive group and you feel great just being around everyone.’’

Bishop said the group’s numbers could easily double, perhaps incorporating more adults who haven’t played in a while but never lost their musical interest. She’s looking into requesting nonprofit status and exploring other fundraising options.

For more information on the Play It Forward Orchestra, contact Bishop at .

By Joey Johnston

Published March 17, 2021

Bishop McLaughlin makes history in state title bid

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They couldn’t quite win it all, but they got pretty darn close — and they’re primed for another good shot come next season.

The Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School varsity boys basketball program’s historic season came to a close in an 85-76 overtime loss against Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy at the FHSAA 3A state championship game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on March 5.

The Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School varsity basketball team went 22-7 and reached the FHSAA Class 3A state final four at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The Hurricanes ultimately lost in overtime in the state championship game to Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy, 85-76. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School)

The Hurricanes were paced by junior guard Emanual Sharp’s 33 points and enjoyed a solid six-point lead through three quarters of the title game.

But the lead quickly vanished once a sized-up Calvary Christian squad amped up its pressure defense, forcing a slew of turnovers and poor shots.

Calvary Christian — with eight players taller than 6-feet-5 — wound up outscoring Bishop McLaughlin 31-17 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined.

Fatigue and inexperience against Calvary Christian’s defense and heightened level of physicality also were factors in Bishop McLaughlin’s struggles at the close of game, first-year Hurricanes head coach Derrick Sharp told The Laker/Lutz News.

“Our guys kind of rushed their passes or threw weak passes or for whatever reason we just kind of lost the ball and they capitalized quick, and credit to (Calvary Christian) and their players and the pressure that they put on us, and that’s kind of what did it. From there, they had the momentum…and we just kind of lost our way in the end.

“Some miscommunication, a missed shot, a bad shot, a bad decision here, there, kind of cost us the game, but that’s the way it goes. Our guys will learn from it, I’ll learn from it, and we’ll be better from it,” said Coach Sharp, a former University of South Florida standout who played professionally in Israel for 18 years.

Bishop McLaughlin junior guard Emanuel Sharp snips the homecourt nets following a banner 2020-2021 campaign.

Celebrating a banner campaign
Bishop McLaughlin (22-7) joins rare company as the first boys hoops program in Pasco County to reach the state tournament in Lakeland since the 2015-2016 Zephyrhills High Bulldogs. That Bulldogs team lost in the 5A state semifinals that year, falling to Kissimmee Poinciana 70-52.

Moreover, the Hurricanes are the first Pasco boys basketball program in more than 50 years to play in a state title game — when  Zephyrhills finished state runner-up in the 1966-1967 season. (Those Bulldogs teams were a force in the 1960s, winners of two state titles in 1962 and ’64, and runners-up in ’60 and ’66.)

The Hurricanes lengthy playoff run has generated quite a buzz about the small private Catholic school throughout the region, said Bishop McLaughlin athletic director Rex Desvaristes.

“Us being in Lakeland (for the state tournament) really opened the eyes of some of our community, not only in the Pasco area, but the Tampa Bay area,” the athletic director said. “This basketball program has helped grow our awareness and everybody knowing who Bishop McLaughlin is and our athletic program, so it definitely helped us.”

He continued: “When you’re in Lakeland and you’re advancing and you’re playing late in the spring, it’s enticing to other people in the community, because they’re tuning into your program. When you’re having success, that’s what happens. You’re getting the attention that you deserve, and that’s what’s happened with us.”

The local hoops program has come a long way in a short time.

The Hurricanes won just two games during the 2019-2020 season and seven the year before.

A roster and coaching overhaul brought in a slew of fresh faces and talent this season, however.

The team’s starting lineup of juniors — Emanuel Sharp, Anthony Davis Jr., Dillon Mitchell, Joshua Watkins, Matthew Webster — all have full-ride college athletic scholarships on the table.

High-flying athletes like 6-foot-7 junior forward Dillon Mitchell helped propel the Bishop McLaughlin boys basketball program to one of the best seasons in Pasco County history.

Each of those starters transferred in from elsewhere — Emanual Sharp (Blake High), Davis Jr. (Blake High), Mitchell (Sickles High), Watkins (Brandon High) and Webster (Pasco High).

Better yet, they’re all expected to return next season, as are role players in junior Javy Barber, sophomores Xavier Finney and Will Willard, and freshman Christopher Cruz.

Though the squad came up just short of a state crown, it was a memorable campaign nonetheless for players like Emanuel Sharp.

“It was great that we could all come here and make a difference right off the bat,” he said. “It was all our first year together and we’re still figuring things out to this day,” noting there are still things to fix.

“It was just a great season overall. I’m very happy with what we did.”

The 6-foot-4 combo guard and coach’s son is already looking forward to next year’s possibilities — armed with a full cast that will return older, and perhaps wiser and more skilled.

“It’s exciting knowing that our entire team is going to be coming back next year,” Emanuel said. “I get to play with my teammates, we can improve in the summer and improve in the offseason, and come back next year better than ever, ready to make another state run.”

The team’s offensive system runs through Emanuel, who led all 3A players in scoring — averaging 24.3 points per game and he boasts multiple top-flight Division I offers from the likes of Florida, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech and Xavier, among others.

Other double-digit scorers during the season were 6-foot-8 Mitchell (17.8 points) and 6-foot-5 Davis Jr. (12.1 points).

“On any given night, anybody can be the leading scorer, but the guys knew who the best player was offensively for us, so they kind of looked to (Emanuel) offensively to initiate and to create,” Derrick Sharp said.

Besides the unique collection of height, athleticism and skill, the coach credited the team’s character and unselfishness nature, noting they bought into being unconcerned with their own stat lines, but rather doing what was needed to best help the team win games.

The Bishop McLaughlin varsity boys basketball team had one of the best prep basketball seasons in Pasco County history. They’re the first boys team in the county to reach the state final four in Lakeland since Zephyrhills High did it during the 2015-2016 season.

“It’s truly probably the best group of guys that I’ve ever had the chance to coach,” Derrick Sharp said. “We definitely have the right chemistry and the right love and the right mindset, and everybody plays their role, and it’s only going to get better from here.”

Overcoming adversity, setbacks
The Hurricanes experienced its fair share of adversity along the way.

Emanuel Sharp had to sit out roughly the first two months of the season due to a fractured hand sustained from the fall.

The team also battled a bout with COVID-19, in which the entire varsity squad was required to sit out in the district finals against Carrollwood Day.

Forced to play with their junior varsity squad instead, the Hurricanes suffered a major 69-25 defeat — therefore requiring them to navigate the playoff season entirely on the road.

But they handled the challenge well, downing Clearwater Calvary Christian (62-48), Carrollwood Day (84-66) and Fort Myers Canterbury  (47-42) in regionals to advance to the state final four, then beating Jacksonville Andrew Jackson (79-71) in the semifinals before ultimately losing in the championship game. “Our road to states was pretty much on the road,” said Derrick Sharp.

Meanwhile, the program faced a strategically built challenging regular season schedule from November to February.

This included trips to face large in-state schools like Orlando Dr. Phillips and Punta Gorda Charlotte, as well as premier out-of-state tournaments like the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the Hurricanes went up against state powerhouses, including North Carolina’s Greensboro Day School and Ohio’s Archbishop Moeller, among others.

The arduous collection of road games and foes was designed to give Hurricanes players a taste of tougher competition and intensity level; the team can expect another rough slate again next season.

Said Derrick Sharp: “I didn’t care if we won those games or lost them, I just wanted the guys to get that experience and get battle-tested, and that kind of is what ultimately helped us (in the state tournament), so, that’s definitely what we’re going to look for when we’re setting our schedule (in 2022).

He added: “Look at Calvary, they went 17-7, but all their losses were against tough teams and it made them tougher, and it showed in that fourth quarter where they were down and they came out and kind of punched us in the face, and that’s what we have to learn, that type of toughness if we want to be champions…”

2020-2021 Bishop McLaughlin boys basketball roster
Javy Barber, 6-foot-3 junior guard
Christopher Cruz, 6-foot-4 freshman guard
Xavier Finney, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard
Anthony Davis Jr., 6-foot-5 junior guard
Dillon Mitchell, 6-foot-8 junior forward
Emanuel Sharp, 6-foot-4 junior guard
Joshua Watkins, 6-foot-6 junior guard
Matthew Webster, 6-foot-8 junior center/forward
Will Willard, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard

Coaching staff
Derrick Sharp, head coach
Kenneth McDonald, assistant
Richard Bryant, assistant

2020-2021 Bishop McLaughlin boys basketball schedule
Nov. 23: Clearwater Academy International (88-77 win)
Dec. 1: Clearwater Calvary Christian (76-60 win)
Dec. 3: American Collegiate Academy (75-55 win)
Dec. 5: West Nassau (52-50 loss)
Dec. 8: Tampa Catholic (76-71 overtime win)
Dec. 9: Land O’ Lakes (80-34 win)
Dec. 12: King (76-49 win)
Dec. 19: Admiral Farragut (80-60 win)
Dec. 21: Dr. Phillips (65-53 loss)
Dec. 22: Pine Ridge (93-50 win)
Dec. 26: South Carolina Cheraw (79-38 win)
Dec. 29: North Carolina Greensboro Day School (66-56 loss)
Dec. 30: South Carolina Gray Collegiate Academy (83-71 win)
Dec. 31: Ohio Archbishop Moeller (56-50 loss)
Jan. 2: Central Pointe Christian Academy (63-60 win)
Jan. 3: Potter’s House Christian (60-45 win)
Jan. 5: Windemere Prep (72-64 loss)
Jan. 22: Bayshore Christian (81-68 win)
Jan. 23: Charlotte (69-58 win)
Jan. 28: Fivay (90-56 win)
Feb. 2: Berkeley Prep (52-47 win)
Feb. 5: Mitchell (87-63 win)
Feb. 9: Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate (70-36 win)
Feb.13: Carrollwood Day (69-25 loss)

2021 FHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball State Tournament
Feb. 18: Clearwater Calvary Christian— region quarterfinals (62-48 win)
Feb. 23: Carrollwood Day — region semifinals (84-66 win)
Feb. 26: Fort Myers Canterbury — region finals (47-42 win)
March 3: Jacksonville Andrew Jackson — state semifinals (79-71 win)
March 5: Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy — state championship (85-76 overtime loss)

Published March 10, 2021