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Wiregrass Ranch High School
January 11, 2022 By Kevin Weiss
High school coaches from Pasco County Schools recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2021-2022 fall sports season.
Selections were made for both the East and West divisions.
The following high schools from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were represented in the East: Cypress Creek, Land O' Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.
Here is a listing of boys team and individual recipients within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area for cross-country, football, golf, swimming & diving, and volleyball.
NOTE: The Laker/Lutz News will publish the Girls All-Conference listings in its Jan. 19 edition.
Fall Sports (Boys)
The Sunlake varsity boys cross-country team finished third in the Class 3A state championship meet, representing the best finish among all local schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. From left: Nathan Lee, Cason Meyer, Cade Culpepper, Alex Pena, Colby Robbins, Maximillian Goserud and Cody Smith. (File)
SAC East All-Conference Cross-Country
Team Champion: Sunlake
Coach of the Year: Randal Reeves, Sunlake
Runner of the Year: Colby Robbins, Sunlake
First-Team
Colby Robbins, Sunlake, senior
Zack Poekert, Cypress Creek, junior
Alex Pena, Sunlake, junior
Cason Meyer, Sunlake, senior
William Poe, Zephyrhills, sophomore
Cade Culpepper, Sunlake, freshman
Seth Stringer, Pasco, senior
Second-Team
Max Goserud, Sunlake, senior
Hunter Boggs, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
Dalton Sallengs, Land O' Lakes, junior
Caden Sessions, Land O' Lakes, sophomore
Nathan Lee, Sunlake, junior
Cody Smith, Sunlake, senior
Nathan Webb, Land O' Lakes, freshman
Cole Couch, Wesley Chapel, senior
SAC East All-Conference Football
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch
Coach of the Year: Anthony Egan, Wesley Chapel
Offensive Player of the Year: Rocco Becht, Wiregrass Ranch
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Poleon, Wesley Chapel
The Wiregrass Ranch varsity football team defeated all three of its Pasco County opponents this season, downing Mitchell (21-6), River Ridge (69-47), and Zephyrhills (40-7). (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School athletics department)
First-Team Offense
QB: Rocco Becht, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
RB: Jaylin Thomas, Zephyrhills, senior
RB: Jaylan Blake, Wesley Chapel, senior
WR: Kenan Ayala, Land O' Lakes, junior
WR: Bryson Rodgers, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
TE: Dylan Lolley, Cypress Creek, junior
OL: Cristian Loaiza, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Logan Ridolph, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Isaiah Tavo, Land O' Lakes, senior
OL: Quinn Hewitt, Sunlake, senior
OL: Briac Riles, Wesley Chapel, senior
First-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, senior
DL: Aiden Marsh, Land O' Lakes, junior
DL: Steven Prevaux, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
DL: Zeph Johnson, Sunlake, junior
LB: Josh Poleon, Wesley Chapel, junior
LB: Theotis Smith, Zephyrhills, senior
LB: Mitch Hammond, Sunlake, senior
DB: Abram Beer, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
DB: Nick Sheldon, Zephyrhills, senior
DB: Nehemiah Morgan, Wesley Chapel, senior
DB: Tymar McKever, Zephyrhills, senior
P: Daniel Lester, Sunlake, senior
K: Daniel Lester, Sunlake, senior
Utility: Nehemiah Morgan, Wesley Chapel, senior
Second-Team Offense
QB: Kyle Horvath, Land O' Lakes, sophomore
RB: Kione Robinson, Cypress Creek, senior
RB: Jackson Lipski, Sunlake, junior
WR: Dontrell Clerkley, Cypress Creek, senior
WR: T.J. Jackson, Zephyrhills, senior
TE: David Alejandro, Land O' Lakes, senior
OL: Austin Slusher, Cypress Creek, sophomore
OL: Tucker Schwab, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
OL: Damon McMillian, Zephyrhills, sophomore
OL: Max Hembrecht, Wesley Chapel, junior
OL: Karl Campbell, Cypress Creek, senior
Second-Team Defense/Special Teams
DL: Vincent Tre, Cypress Creek, junior
DL: Xavier Lewis, Land O' Lakes, senior
DL: Gabe Stewart, Wesley Chapel, junior
DL: Calob Durham, Zephyrhills, junior
LB: Jordan McCaslin, Wesley Chapel, senior
LB: Ethan Ayo, Pasco, senior
LB: Kevin Marks, Land O' Lakes, junior
DB: Ayden Roysdon, Wesley Chapel, senior
DB: Elijah Westbrooks, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
DB: Luis Nunez, Sunlake, senior
DB: Jakobe Campbell, Zephyrhills, sophomore
P: Will Fotopolous, Land O' Lakes, junior
K: Colton Corrao, Cypress Creek, senior
Utility: Jaxson Rivera, Zephyrhills, senior
SAC East All-Conference Golf
Coach of the Year: Bob Kamps, Sunlake
Golfer of the Year: Cody Williams
Sunlake senior Cody Williams, left, was named 2021 SAC East Boys Golfer of the Year. Williams stands alongside coach Bob Kamps, who was named 2021 SAC East Boys Golf Coach of the Year. (File)
Cody Williams, Sunlake, senior
Daniel Polce, Cypress Creek, senior
Alex Dodd, Sunlake, junior
Conor Newbold, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Eddie Chang, Sunlake, senior
Ben Alexander, Land O' Lakes, junior
Aidan Sherman, Land O' Lakes, senior
Max Haines, Sunlake, freshman
Joaquin Parrilla, Cypress Creek, junior
Levi Wade, Cypress Creek, sophomore
Honorable Mention(s)
Gabriel Johnston, Zephyrhills, senior
Aidan Brooks, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
Cooper Krump, Pasco, freshman
Jackson Almasy, Wesley Chapel, junior
SAC East All-Conference Swimming and Diving
Coach of the Year: Kyle Gramm, Wiregrass Ranch
Swimmer of the Year: Alex Thai, Sunlake
Diver of the Year: Nolan Ray, Land O' Lakes
200 medley relay: Sunlake — Cayden DeTillio, sophomore; Alex Thai, senior; Jackson Houck, junior; Tien Duong, junior
200 freestyle: Andrew Fisher, Pasco, senior
200 individual medley: Garret McNab, Land O' Lakes, junior
50 freestyle: Alex Thai, Sunlake, junior
100 butterfly: Noah Porter, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
100 freestyle: Kevin Chen, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
500 freestyle: Jack Porter, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore
200 freestyle relay: Sunlake — Cayden DeTillio, sophomore; Alex Thai, junior; Jackson Houck, junior; Tien Duong, junior
100 backstroke: Michael McCloskey, Land O' Lakes, junior
100 breaststroke: Alex Thai, Sunlake, junior
400 freestyle relay: Wiregrass Ranch — Kevin Chen, senior; RB Childers, senior; Parker Munari, senior; Noah Porter, senior
Diver: Nolan Ray, Land O' Lakes, junior
200 medley relay: Wiregrass Ranch — Parker Munari, senior; Noah Porter, senior; RB Childers, senior; Kevin Chen, senior
200 individual medley: Cristian Doan, Pasco, freshman
50 freestyle: Tien Duong, Sunlake, junior
100 butterfly: Michael McCloskey, Land O' Lakes, junior
100 freestyle: Tien Duong, Sunlake, junior
500 freestyle: Reid Knuckes, Wiregrass Ranch, junior
200 freestyle relay: Cypress Creek — Adam Przychodski, junior; Nicky Vreeland, senior; Clay Ballash, sophomore; Paul Bobey, senior
100 backstroke: Parker Munari, Wiregrass Ranch, senior
100 breaststroke: Cristian Doan, Pasco, freshman
400 freestyle relay: Andrew Fisher, senior; Aaron Loguercio, junior; Cristian Doan, freshman, Connor Harrie, junior
Diver: Aaron Tran, Land O' Lakes, senior
Tyler Norman, Wesley Chapel, sophomore
Jacob Piankowski, Zephyrhills, sophomore
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Cypress Creek High School, Land O' Lakes High School, Pasco County Schools, Pasco High School, Sunlake High School, Sunshine Athletic Conference, Wesley Chapel High Schools, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
Pasco Schools shifting start times
The Pasco County School Board has adopted a new schedule for school starting and ending times, effective in January.
The board unanimously approved the shift, during its Nov. 2 meeting, knowing that the new scheduling will disrupt virtually every school and student throughout the district.
They said a shortage of bus drivers forced their hand.
Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning
Board members and Superintendent Kurt Browning said other options were explored, but, in the end, none of them could ensure the on-time arrival of students to school.
"We are, and have been, very concerned about the loss of instructional time for our students," Browning said. "We have had numbers of our students coming to our schools upwards of an hour late.
"We are somewhat in a desperate place to ensure that we can fill the gap for those 60 to 65 drivers that we do not have," Browning added.
"There's nobody in this district that likes this plan, including the superintendent. I don't like it. I don't like anything about it," he added.
However, he noted, having students arrive late is not appealing, either.
The district has been flooded with suggestions for how to solve the problem.
It has tried different strategies, but all of them fell short, according to Betsy Kuhn, an assistant superintendent who oversees the district's transportation departments.
People suggested the district ask parents to drive students to school.
The district did.
The response was too small to reroute buses and take any off the road, Kuhn said.
Some recommended the district charge bus riders.
It can't because it has a state obligation to transport students living two miles or more from school, Kuhn added.
Some said the answer is higher pay for drivers.
"I've gotten lots of emails (in which) people say, 'If you just pay $20 an hour, this will all go away,'" Kuhn said.
She supports a pay raise for bus drivers, but said, "we know, from looking at other districts and from looking around the country, that pay alone does not solve this problem.
"While we do want to do that, and hope it is something we can do in the very near future, it's not going to be the quick fix here," Kuhn said.
School board chairman Allen Altman said some have recommended that schools run on a split schedule. Those riding a bus would be on one schedule; and others arriving on their own, would be on another.
"I've talked to some of our school people," Altman said. They essentially told him that would be impossible.
Kuhn concurred: "School operations would be an issue."
Board members also heard from scores of people explaining the negative impacts that shifting the school day will cause.
Two parents came to the board's Nov. 2 meeting to share their concerns.
One said his wife teaches in the district.
He said the new school starting and ending times creates a child care issue.
Spending money for child care, in essence, lowers his wife's teaching salary.
Although she loves teaching, from the family's economic standpoint, they might be better off if she took a job where she could work from home.
Another parent raised concerns about traffic safety issues.
The new schedule has Wiregrass Ranch Elementary and Wiregrass Ranch High School starting at the same time.
Both schools are located on Mansfield Boulevard.
He's concerned about having so many vehicles coming and going at the same time.
Board members expressed empathy for the impact the scheduling changes will have on families, students and the community. But they said the district must do what it can to ensure students don't miss out on instructional time.
The superintendent initially had called for the new schedule to be in effect for the second semester of this school year and for the entire school year, in 2022-2023.
But he has stepped back on that recommendation, agreeing, instead, to reassess the situation in May to determine whether the change will be necessary for next school year.
The district also will continue its efforts to recruit more drivers.
One way it hopes to entice applicants is by making sure potential drivers know that the district offers flexible scheduling.
Drivers can take morning shifts, afternoon shifts, or both. They also can choose to work only on specific days of the week, Kuhn said.
PROPOSED BELL TIMES
School Start End
Bexley 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Centennial 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Chester Taylor 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Connerton 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Denham Oaks 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Double Branch 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Lacoochee 8:10 a.m. 2:20 p.m.
Lake Myrtle 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
New River 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Oakstead 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Odessa 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Pasco 8:10 a.m. 2:20 p.m.
Pine View 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Qual Hollow 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Rodney B. Cox 8:10 a.m. 2:20 p.m.
San Antonio 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Sand Pine 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Sanders 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Seven Oaks 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Starkey Ranch K-8 9:10 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
Veterans 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Watergrass 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Wesley Chapel 9:10 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
West Zephyrhills 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Wiregrass 8:10 a.m. 23:20 p.m.
Woodland 10:10 a.m. 4:20 p.m.
Rushe 7:15 a.m. 1:42 p.m.
Cypress Creek 8:10 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
John Long 9 a.m. 3:20 p.m.
Pine View 9:10 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
Stewart 9:10 a.m. 3:35 p.m.
Weightman 8:10 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
East Pasco Education Academy 8:10 a.m. 2:35 p.m.
Land O' Lakes 7:10 a.m. 1:35 p.m.
Sunlake 7:10 a.m. 1:44 p.m.
Wendell Krinn 8:10 a.m. 3:05 p.m.
Wiregrass Ranch 8:10 a.m. 2:36 p.m.
Zephyrhills 7:10 a.m. 1:36 p.m.
Note: These schools are located in or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. For a complete list of schools and proposed bell times, visit the Pasco County Schools' website at Pasco.k12.fl.us.
Filed Under: Education, Local News Tagged With: Allen Altman, Betsy Kuhn, Kurt Browning, Mansfield Boulevard, Pasco County School Board, school times, Wiregrass Ranch Elementary, Wiregrass Ranch High School
Locals make impact during 2021 MLB season
Looking back, the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season brought some normalcy to the sports world, with a full spring training slate, the traditional 162-game regular season and fans once again allowed to return to the stadium stands.
There were lingering signs of the COVID-19 pandemic, however.
For instance, the Toronto Blue Jays began the season playing "home" games in Dunedin — and then Buffalo, New York — amid Canadian-U.S. border restrictions. They eventually returned to Toronto in late July.
Meanwhile, a coronavirus outbreak hampered the Boston Red Sox between parts of August and September, where a dozen players and two members of the team's support staff tested positive.
Even so, there were just nine games postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks across the league the entire season.
As the big league season went into full swing, several pro ballplayers with roots in The Laker/Lutz Newspaper coverage area made notable impacts in one way or another.
Here's a rundown on those with local connections.
San Diego Padres pitcher Austin Adams is a Zephyrhills High product. (File)
Austin Adams, San Diego Padres, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School
It was a tale of two seasons for Austin Adams.
Before the mid-July All-Star break, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty posted an impressive 1.71 ERA in 31.2 innings, but slumbered in the second half of the year, with a 7.71 ERA in 21 innings.
Adams, 30, completed the campaign with a collective 3-2 win-loss record, 4.10 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched, and pitching shutouts in 52 of his 65 appearances.
His late-season struggles represented a microcosm of the San Diego Padres, who went 79-83 after going 53-40 in the first half of the season and 26-43 in the second half.
Adams also made some interesting baseball history this season.
He set a new MLB record for the Live Ball Era (since 1920) for most hit-batsman in a season — with 24.
The reason for the plunks isn't intentional, but rather due to his heavy-moving slider, which he throws about 87% of the time.
Besides his struggles of late, Adams earns praise for strong advanced metrics against opposing hitters, with elite marks in average exit velocity, barrel percentage, whiff percentage, hard hit percentage, strikeout percentage and fastball spin rate.
Adams grew up in Zephyrhills and played Little League at Sam Pasco Park.
He went on to earn four letters in baseball, as well as one in basketball, at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009.
Adams' high school pedigree led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, before entering pro ball as an eighth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 MLB Draft.
Minnesota Twins pitcher John Gant is a Wiregrass Ranch High product. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)
John Gant, Minnesota Twins, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School
John Gant experienced a respectable 2021 campaign serving a variety of pitching roles between the St. Louis Cardinals and then the Minnesota Twins, who acquired him in a July 30 trade.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty had a 5-11 record, 4.09 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 92 strikeouts in 110 innings.
The season didn't end as hoped for the 29-year-old Gant, however.
He went 1-5 with a 5.40 ERA over his last seven appearances, and ended the year on the 10-day injured list with a mild right groin strain — this, after he missed time with a left abdominal strain.
Although he ended the year on the injured list, he's expected to be ready for the start of spring training in 2022.
Gant's arsenal features as many as six different pitches, headlined by a sinker (37%) and changeup (21.4%), along with a cutter (19.6%), four-seam fastball (11.8%), curveball (5.6%) and slider (3.1%), according MLB.com's Statcast metrics.
Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and sustaining just three losses in four years.
He also was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams. His father, John Sr., was a science teacher at the school and longtime varsity girls basketball coach.
In the past, Gant has spent the baseball offseason training in and around the Wesley Chapel area.
Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado is a Gaither High product (File)
Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School
Oscar Mercado is still trying to live up to his strong rookie campaign in 2019.
After a substandard 2020 season — .138 batting average in 36 games — Mercado bounced back to a more respectable showing this time around after earning a promotion from Triple-A Columbus in late June.
In 214 at-bats across 72 games, the 26-year-old Mercado posted a .224/.300/.369 slash line, with 18 extra-base hits (including six home runs), seven stolen bases, 19 RBIs, and 27 runs scored.
In earning regular playing time, the 6-foot-2, 197-pound Mercado also exhibited versatility, making starts in all three outfield spots — the majority in centerfield.
Some other positive signs of improvements included notably cutting his strikeout rate (17.6% in 2021, down from 29% in 2020) while upping his walk rate (8.8% in 2021, 5.4% in 2020).
A lingering question remains if Mercado will be on the Indians roster in 2022, as he's out of minor league options, which would allow him to be sent to the minors without first being subjected to waivers.
A native of Colombia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old.
He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns and ranked among the nation's top prep middle infielders.
Following high school, Mercado was picked by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (57th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Nate Pearson is an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin product. (File)
Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (Odessa native)
Nate Pearson spent the bulk of the season in the minor leagues, but became an integral member of the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen as a September call-up, as the team fell just short of a playoff berth in going 91-71.
He posted a 4.20 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 15 innings. (This included a stellar 3.09 ERA in 11.2 innings across 10 appearances in September.)
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound righty is known for one of baseball's highest-velocity fastballs, averaging 97.8 mph on his four-seamer, to go along with an 87-mph slider and seldom-used curveball and changeup.
Going forward, Pearson is expected to take on a larger multi-inning role with the team, contingent upon his status with a groin injury that set him back over the course of the 2021 campaign.
Expectations remain lofty on the 25-year-old flamethrower, as he entered the 2021 season as the Blue Jays top-ranked prospect and the sport's No. 10 prospect overall, according to MLB.com.
Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015.
Pearson went on to play college baseball at Florida International University, then transferred to the College of Central Florida.
Pearson was taken by Toronto late in the first round (28th overall) in the 2017 MLB Draft.
Land O' Lakes native Kevin Quackenbush made a brief appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media/MLB.com)
Kevin Quackenbush, Los Angeles Dodgers, pitcher
Local tie: Land O' Lakes native
Kevin Quackenbush's showing in the majors this season was very brief — appearing in one game and firing just a third of an inning in a Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 8.
It represented the 32-year-old's first MLB action since 2018.
Quackenbush since elected for free agency in early October, after being outrighted off the Dodgers 40-man roster.
Quackenbush was a staple of the San Diego Padres bullpen from 2014 to 2017, then bounced around to a few other clubs including the Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals.
Across a six-year major league career, he's posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.341 WHIP and 187 strikeouts across 209 innings in 204 appearances.
Quackenbush brings the presence of a hard-nosed reliever, as a bearded, 6-foot-4, 235-pound athlete. His arsenal features three pitches — a four-seam fastball, curveball and slider.
A Land O' Lakes native, Quackenbush attended Tampa Jesuit High School and the University of South Florida, where he was the team's closer and a second team All-American. He was an eighth-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2011.
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, College of Central Florida, Florida International University, Gaither High School, John Gant, Kevin Quackenbush, Land O' Lakes, Little League, Live Ball Era, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Minnesota Twins, MLB, Nate Pearson, Oscar Mercado, Sam Pasco Park, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Jesuit High School, Toronto Blue Jays, University of South Florida, Washington Nationals, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
Hometown athletes to watch this college season
September 7, 2021 By Kevin Weiss
Before becoming college football standouts seen regularly on national television and in massive stadiums across the country, area athletes distinguished themselves on the gridiron locally, in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
Big-time college football is now underway this fall — and, with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, a sense of normalcy has returned with fuller schedules and attendance capacity to accommodate thousands of fans compared to 2020.
Dozens of athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area are a part of programs at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, as well as Division II, Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and junior college ranks.
Here's a closer look at some notable hometown players to watch throughout the 2021 college football season:
Dade City native Michael Penix Jr., is generating national buzz as Indiana University's starting signal-caller. (File)
Michael Penix Jr.
College: Indiana University, redshirt junior quarterback
Local tie: Dade City native/Pasco High School
Michael Penix Jr., is generating quite the buzz among national college football pundits leading into the 2021 campaign for the Indiana University Hoosiers.
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound lefty slinger is ranked No. 45 in ESPN's Top 100 College Football Players listing. Moreover, Penix is on the Manning Award Watch List, which recognizes 32 of the NCAA's top quarterbacks in different conferences.
The preseason accolades coming his way are well-deserved.
Penix helped steered the Hoosiers in 2020 to the team's best season in over 50 years. That included a 5-1 start and No. 12 national ranking before he experienced a season-ending injury.
He completed 56.4% of his throws for 1,647 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and four picks across six games, but suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in November 2020.
The ability to stay healthy will be key going forward, as injuries have cut short all three of Penix's seasons at Indiana.
Along with the 2020 injury, Penix suffered a clavicle injury in November 2019 that required surgery. He also previously tore his ACL in his right knee in 2018.
Closer to home, Penix played his freshman and sophomore prep seasons at Pasco High in 2014 and 2015, then transferred to Tampa Bay Technical High School for his junior and senior years.
His father, Mike Sr., was an All-State tailback/defensive back at Pasco High in the early '90s.
Deon Silas
College: Iowa State University, freshman tailback
Local tie: Steinbrenner High School
A record-setting running back at Steinbrenner High School, Deon Silas is poised to build off that production for the Iowa State University Cyclones.
Steinbrenner High product Deon Silas is already turning heads as a freshman running back at Iowa State University. (Courtesy of Iowa State University athletics department)
Silas was an early-enrollee into the Cyclones program in January, getting a head start on the playbook and habits required of a successful college athlete.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound skill player generated buzz in spring practices thanks to his speed and shiftiness.
He has built on that momentum with fall camp, with his name on initial depth chart projections — likely the team's third-string tailback and possible kick return option on special teams.
Not too shabby for a true freshman joining a program that last year turned heads in by finishing 9-3 (including 8-1 in the Big 12 Conference).
Out of Steinbrenner, Silas was the No. 93-ranked player in the state of Florida and No. 11-ranked all-purpose back in the class of 2021, per 247Sports.com.
He tallied a combined 5,570 all-purpose yards (2,734 rushing yards, 1,428 receiving yards, 1,408 return yards) and 55 touchdowns across an illustrious four-year varsity career.
Silas isn't the only familiar face on the Iowa State roster. Former Steinbrenner wideout Aidan Bitter is on the squad, entering his sophomore campaign.
Chris Faddoul
College: Florida A&M University, senior punter
Chris Faddoul is one of many FCS players longing for the gridiron, after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out many programs' chances for a 2020 season, including the Florida A&M University Rattlers in Tallahassee.
Former Wiregrass Ranch standout Chris Faddoul is an All-American punter at Florida A&M University. (File)
Expectations are specifically high for the strong-legged 6-foot-1 special teamer.
He is one of 20 candidates named to the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year Award preseason watch list as announced by The Augusta Sports Council.
There also have been reports of NFL scouts visiting FAMU practices to watch Faddoul, among other players.
It's no wonder why — considering Faddoul is a two-time All-American and once led the nation in punting.
In 2018, he led the FCS with an average of 46.8 yards per punt. He followed that up with an average of 46 yards per punt in 2019, second in the FCS ranks.
At Wiregrass Ranch, Faddoul was a multi-sport standout, playing football, soccer, tennis, and also competing in track & field. Faddoul guided the Bulls to a state football playoff appearance as a senior, serving as the team's starting quarterback, kicker and punter.
Donovan Jennings
College: University of South Florida, senior offensive lineman
Donovan Jennings returns for his fourth year in the University of South Florida Bulls program, where he's played 29 games (19 starts) over the last three years — and now anchors an offensive line that returns all five starters from last season.
Gaither High School product Donovan Jennings is poised to anchor the University of South Florida's offensive line this season. (File)
The 6-foot-5, 337-pound senior guard is garnering some big preseason recognition to match his size, too.
Jennings has been named to Athlon Sports preseason 2021 American Athletic Conference (AAC) all-conference second team offense.
He's also been identified as one of 500 college football players to watch by the NFLPA (National Football Players Association) Collegiate Bowl's "Big Board," which identifies 500 draft-eligible senior collegiate football players to watch for the upcoming season.
Jennings generally has been lauded by current and former coaches for his pass protection skills and effectiveness in the run game.
Thanks to a rare combination of quick feet, balance and strength, Jennings often is tasked with blocking opponent's top pass-rushers in one-on-one situations.
One of the lineman's brightest spots last season came in the Bulls' season finale against rival University of Central Florida. He helped pave the way for his team's offense to post 646 yards of total offense, including 242 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Jennings, surprisingly, didn't begin playing football until his freshman year of high school, as size limitations in youth leagues prevented him from playing the sport.
But, he blossomed into an All-State player in four short years at Gaither, graduating in 2018.
Noah Ruggles
College: Ohio State University, graduate student kicker
Noah Ruggles joins blue-chip Ohio State University, where he'll have two years of eligibility remaining following his June transfer from the University of North Carolina.
Steinbrenner High School product Noah Ruggles joins the prestigious Ohio State University program after transferring from the University of North Carolina in June. The graduate student has two years of eligibility remaining. (File)
Throughout fall camp, Ruggles has been entrenched in a well-publicized field goal kicker battle with redshirt freshman Jake Siebert.
The 6-foot-2 Ruggles has experience on his side for a Buckeyes squad seeking more accuracy over long-range distance and that's coming off a national championship bid that fell just short in 2020.
Ruggles lost his starting job at North Carolina last season, where he was limited to just one appearance, a made extra-point versus Western Carolina University.
However, Ruggles has demonstrated accuracy in close range before, such as in 2019, where he made all nine of his attempts within 30 yards.
Altogether in that career season, Ruggles appeared in 13 games and was fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring with 102 points. He did that by making 19 of 27 field goals and connecting on all 45 touchdown points-after. (Both marks were the fifth-most in North Carolina's single-season program history.)
Ruggles also has proven battle-tested in tight situations.
Case in point was notching a game-winning 40-yard field goal with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in 20-17 victory over crosstown rival Duke University in late October 2019.
While at Steinbrenner, Ruggles was a first-team Class 8A All-State selection and earned offensive MVP honors of the Hillsborough All-Star Game. He also was a member of the school's soccer team.
Scott Patchan
College: Colorado State University, graduate student defensive line
Local tie: Freedom High School/IMG
Scott Patchan has been around the game awhile — as he's set to begin his sixth college football season (entering his second year with Colorado State University after four years at the University of Miami).
Former Freedom High School standout Scott Patchan looks to finish his lengthy college football career at Colorado State University, on a high note. (File)
The 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman hopes to build off a strong 2020 campaign tapered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In just four contests last season, Patchan tallied 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss overall, adding 22 total tackles and three quarterback hurries — earning first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors in the process.
Also, Patchan won on 24% of his pass rushes, securing a pressure on 19% – both figures leading Mountain West players by 3.5 percentage points, according to metrics from the scouting website Pro Football Focus.
Those wondering why Patchan remains in college for six-plus years — the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all 2020 fall sport athletes.
Locally, Patchan played his first three years of prep ball at Freedom High before transferring to Bradenton's IMG Academy for his senior season.
His final run at Freedom in 2013 proved most productive, as he totaled 8.5 sacks, 56 tackles and 24 tackles for loss.
Patchan's father, Matt III, won national titles with University of Miami in 1983 and in 1987. Also, Patchan's older brother, Matt IV, was an offensive lineman at the University of Florida and Boston College.
Others to watch:
Florida Atlantic University redshirt junior Chaz Neal (Wesley Chapel High School)
Florida A&M University redshirt senior linebacker Ellrie Allen (Wesley Chapel High School)
Florida International University freshman quarterback Haden Carlson (Steinbrenner High School)
Florida State University redshirt junior linebacker DeCalon Brooks (Gaither High School)
Jackson State University junior defensive back Isaiah Bolden (Wesley Chapel High School)
Old Dominion University junior defensive end Estefano Feliciano Jr. (Gaither High School)
University of California-Berkeley safety Raymond Woodie III (Carrollwood Day School/Wiregrass Ranch High School)
University of Central Florida redshirt senior wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers (Pasco High School/Tampa Catholic High School)
University of Cincinnati junior safety Jaquan Sheppard (Zephyrhills High School)
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Carrollwood Day School, Chaz Neal, Chris Faddoul, Colorado State University, Decalon Brooks, Deon Silas, Donovan Jennings, Ellrie Allen, Estefano Feliciano Jr., Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Freedom High School, Gaither High School, Haden Carlson, IMG, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Isaiah Bolden, Ja'quan Sheppard, Jackson State University, Michael Penix Jr., Nate Craig-Myers, National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, Noah Ruggles, Ohio State University, Old Dominion University, Pasco High School, Raymond Woodie III, Scott Patchan, Steinbrenner High School, Tampa Catholic High School, University of California-Berkeley, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati, University of South Florida, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
SADD names local student for national post
August 3, 2021 By B.C. Manion
Shaina Finkel likely didn't know at the ripe old age of 6 that one day she would be taking her place on a national stage for a group that's primary mission is to save lives.
But that's exactly what happened on July 28, when the Wiregrass Ranch High School student was sworn in as the national student president for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).
Her selection was celebrated during a national news conference, which took place at Wiregrass Ranch High School and was streamed by SADD's social media channels.
Shaina Finkel is the new national student president for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). The Wiregrass Ranch High student was sworn in during a national news conference last week, and took a moment to thank a long list of supporters in life, including her parents, grandparents, SADD chapter members and the Wiregrass Ranch school administration. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
One of the key speakers at the event was Greg Finkel, the adviser for the SADD chapter since Wiregrass Ranch High opened. He's Shaina's dad.
"We do it to save lives," said Finkel, who has been the adviser of the Wiregrass chapter since it began in 2008.
The chapter's T-shirts have a Superman logo on the front and words on the back that say: "How to save a life."
His pride in his daughter's accomplishment was palpable, as he struggled, occasionally, to maintain his composure.
She was just a little girl, he said, when she asked if she could come along to a chapter meeting.
Finkel thought to himself: Why not?
She became a regular, and even at that early age, she was a leader, he said.
Whether the chapter was working with young kids or the elderly, he said, "she took over."
As she grew older, she became even more involved.
At one point, she asked Finkel if he thought she could become chapter president.
He said he didn't see why not, but they would have to see about it when she got to high school.
Shaina became president of the Wiregrass chapter during her sophomore year, and now, as a rising senior, she is entering her third year in that role.
Last year, though, she told Finkel: "Dad, I would like to see if we can go a little bit further.
"And," he added, "here we are.
"Pretty amazing."
Kids today face greater pressures
Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning joined in the celebration.
"This is a big deal. This is a very big deal, isn't it?" Browning said, adding he understands that today's students are under a great deal of pressure.
"It was way different 45 years ago, when I graduated from Pasco High School," the superintendent said. It was different, too, he added, when his sons, who are now in their 30s, graduated.
The leadership, exhibited by Shaina, and other officers in Wiregrass' SADD chapter, "goes a far distance in encouraging students to make great choices in their lives," Browning said.
SADD president and CEO Rick Birt conducted the swearing-in ceremony, as Shaina became student president of an organization with 7,500 chapters nationwide.
"Today, we honor your community, we honor your chapter, we honor the resilience and the compassion of one remarkable young woman as she assumes a new leadership role," Birt said.
"As the national president, she will serve as our key spokesperson, representing SADD in the media," he said.
She also will help advise and guide the organization in its programming and structure, while working closely with SADD staff, students, advisers, partners and stakeholders across the country, he said.
Shaina said she applied for the role because she was looking "to bring the amazing work that my chapter does to a new level. I wanted them to be in the spotlight. I think we work so incredibly hard here, to make change, to really empower students and I just thought that needed to go to a new level."
She said she saw the application for the position on social media.
"With little hesitation, I went ahead and I applied. It really was a shot in the dark," Shaina said.
"To me, SADD is very much an opportunity. It is an opportunity to be more than yourself. To help others. To help the community.
"It gives you the opportunity to connect with others who have the same mindsets and the same goals and aspirations, that you have," she said.
Helping students find a place they belong
She sees the organization as a way to tackle issues and to play an important role in the lives of others.
"I believe many high schoolers, and middle schoolers for that matter — they're very lost. They don't know their group of people. It's very hard to find a group of people that believes the same things as you.
"So, SADD allows for students across the nation to come together and find each other … to be able to work together, to make incredible changes," she said.
The past year brought many obstacles, she said. But, she added, the students and adults involved with SADD "are so ready to adapt and be able to change on a dime, to keep helping students."
Shaina wants to make mental health a key priority.
"There is such a negative stigma that surrounds having a mental illness. You walk around campus and nobody really sees it, but if you really just tune in and think about it, there are so many students who are right next to us who are struggling. They are suffering. And, they feel alone because they're too embarrassed to go and speak out about what they're feeling," she said.
That's because, she said, "they don't realize there is someone right next to them who has, or does, feel the same way."
SADD wants "to show kids that they're not alone and to touch those topics that most people try to avoid because they are uncomfortable topics," she said.
Filed Under: Education, People Profiles, Top Story Tagged With: Greg Finkel, Kurt Browning, Pasco High School, Rick Birt, SADD, Shaina Finkel, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Wiregrass Ranch High School
Checking in on locals during MLB's All-Star break
July 13, 2021 By Kevin Weiss
The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has reached its designated July midway point with the All-Star break — with weeklong festivities like the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, MLB Draft, Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game all happening in Denver, Colorado.
The league's breather offers several days off for ballplayers before returning to the extensive 162-game regular schedule (not including spring training or playoffs) — with most of the 30 teams out of action from July 12 through July 15.
There are several ballplayers, and a manager, that have their roots in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.
Here's a closer look at these locals' performances, halfway through the Major League season:
Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is a reliever for the San Diego Padres. (File)
Austin Adams has solidified himself as one of the more important bullpen pieces for the contending San Diego Padres (53-40, third in NL West), posting a 1.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 48 strikeouts across 31.2 innings pitched in 30 appearances.
Much of the credit for his success harkens to his high-spin slider, which he throws nearly 89% of the time and averages about 87 mph.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty has struggled with command and control at times (issuing 19 walks and MLB-leading 14 hit batters), yet he's only allowed 14 hits, with batters averaging just .137 against him.
The 30-year-old has had stints in the Majors since 2017, also playing for the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners.
Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park.
He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.
Adams' high school pedigree led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, where he was a cog in the program's first-ever Big East Championship final in 2012, as a junior. Adams went on become an eighth round draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels, signing for $127,500.
Wiregrass Ranch High product John Gant is a veteran right-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. (FIle)
John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
John Gant began the season in the St. Louis Cardinals rotation, but was assigned to a bullpen role weeks ago.
It's a role he's flourished with strike-throwing and walk prevention.
Across 71.2 innings in 21 appearances — the second-most innings he's thrown in his six-year Majors career — the 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty has posted a 3.52 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 60 strikeouts, with a 4-6 record for a Cardinals team that sits fourth in the NL Central at 44-46.
Gant's arsenal features as many as six different pitches, headlined by a sinker (38.6%) and changeup (21.4%), along with a four-seam fastball, slider, cutter and curveball, according to MLB.com's Statcast metrics.
Like his diverse pitch selection, the 28-year-old also has gone viral on social media for altering hairstyles and facial hair during the course of a season.
He's sported everything from a full beard and long hair to corn rows to bushy mustache to some more traditional clean-shaven looks.
Gant made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Atlanta Braves, but has played for St. Louis since 2017.
Locally, Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and sustaining just three losses in four years.
Gant was selected out of high school by the New York Mets in the 21st round of the 2011 MLB Draft, where he signed for $185,000.
Bishop McLaughlin product/Odessa native Nate Pearson is a right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. (Courtesy of Major League Baseball Advanced Media)
Labeled one of baseball's top pitching prospects, many tabbed Nate Pearson to garner American League Rookie of the Year consideration this year for the Toronto Blue Jays.
It's been anything but that so far.
The 24-year-old right-hander was quickly optioned to the minors in early May after firing just 2.1 innings in one big league appearance — a 7-4 road loss to the Houston Astros on May 9, where he allowed five walks, four hits and three earned runs.
Since then, Pearson exhibited up and down showings for the Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons (4.74 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 36 strikeouts in 24.2 innings).
Meanwhile, he hasn't pitched since June 16 as he nurses a right groin strain — a befuddling injury that has him seeking a handful of different medical opinions, according to various media reports.
Measuring 6-foot-6, 250-pounds — aptly nicknamed "Big Nate," — Peason's regarded for a high-velocity fastball that can regularly touch 100 mph and above, along with a mid-80s slider and cutter.
He made his MLB debut during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020, so still maintains rookie-level status.
It remains up in the air if Pearson will pitch for Toronto the rest of this season, which is fighting for positioning in the uber-competitive AL East, where they sit in third place with a 45-42 mark.
He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.
Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami's Florida International University, then transferred to College of Central Florida in Ocala.
Pearson was taken by Toronto late in the first round (28th overall) in the 2017 MLB Draft, signing for a $2.45 million bonus.
Gaither High product Oscar Mercado is an outfielder with the Cleveland Indians. (File)
Oscar Mercado was one of the Cleveland Indians final roster cuts during spring training, but has since worked himself back to the big league club, earning a promotion from Triple-A Columbus on June 28.
The 26-year-old has cobbled together a respectable .281/.343/.500 line with nine hits (including a homer, triple and two doubles), five runs, four RBIs, three walks and nine strikeouts across 32 at-bats in 12 MLB games, along with two stolen bases. Defensively, he's seen action in left field and center field.
The 6-foot-2, 197-pound right-handed hitter had an impressive debut season in 2019. That season he batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases — finishing eighth in the AL Rookie of the Year race.
But what followed was a subpar 2020 campaign — with a paltry .128 with a .348 OPS in 86 at-bats across 36 games.
Mercado's since worked to revamp his swing after last season's slump, with help from the coaching staff and front office, according to various media reports.
He now appears on the right track.
Following high school, Mercado was picked by St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (57th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft, signing for $1.5 million.
He spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018.
Gaither High product/Lutz native Kevin Cash is in his seventh year as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. (File)
Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Unlike most other MLB managers and coaches, Kevin Cash will have on-field duties during the All-Star break.
That's because he was named manager for the AL All-Star squad — a reward designated for leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a World Series appearance last season.
The 2021 MLB All-Star Game— otherwise known as the midsummer classic — is scheduled for July 13 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The game will air live on FOX at 7:30 p.m.
There, Cash will oversee 34 of the sport's top players during the contest, including two familiar faces in Rays catcher Mike Zunino and super-utility Joey Wendle, who were both named All-Star reserves.
Cash's encore from last year's historic Rays campaign hasn't been too shabby, guiding the franchise to a 53-37 record — good for second in the AL East (1.5 game back of first-place Boston Red Sox) and tops in the Wild Card race.
The seventh-year skipper has done it navigating tough team injuries (like ace pitcher Tyler Glasnow) and melding an eclectic group of rookies and veterans, with ages ranging from 20 years old (rookie infielder Wander Franco) to 41 years old (lefty veteran pitcher Rich Hill).
Likewise impressive, Cash's ballclub entered the season with MLB's fifth cheapest payroll at around $69.1 million — ahead of only the Miami Marlins ($58.5 million), Baltimore Orioles ($58.1 million), Pittsburgh Pirates ($55.9 million) and Cleveland Indians ($52.8 million).
Cash is regarded for his relatability to players, plus his quasi-mad scientist approach to managing, with ever-changing batting orders, substitutions, heavy bullpen usage and substitutions, unique defensive positioning and shifts — all designed to maximize the roster and play to player's individuals strengths.
Locally, Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz.
He first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.
Cash later starred at Gaither High School, penning that into a successful college run at Florida State University and eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher mostly.
Cash comes from a baseball family, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Cleveland Indians, Gaither High School, John Gant, Kevin Cash, Major League Baseball, MLB, Oscar Mercado, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
Locals named to All-State football teams
April 20, 2021 By Kevin Weiss
Athletes within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were well-represented on the FloridaHSFootball.com's teams for the 2020 season.
In total, 23 players from 11 schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties were named first-team, second-team, third-team or honorable mention in their respective classifications.
Wharton junior linebacker Henry Griffith (No. 40) earned a Class 8A All-State honorable mention, after posting a team-leading 82 tackles in nine games, plus three sacks and two forced fumbles. (Courtesy of Wharton High School)
The All-State teams were compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com, along with the considerations of information received from coaches, statistics on MaxPreps, and consultation of all-area/all-county teams as published by various media outlets from around the state. The schedule played by the school was taken into account, too.
Gaither High School (6A) garnered seven selections, the most among local schools.
That shouldn't come as much surprise, given the Cowboys finished the 2020 campaign with an 11-1 mark and reached the regional finals before falling to Lake Minneola High School, 35-14.
Gaither's picks were headlined with a first-team choice (junior defensive lineman Mario Eugenio), a second-team choice (senior linebacker Willie Jackson Jr.) and five honorable mentions (senior quarterback Kiael Kelly, senior defensive lineman Asa Vanburen, junior defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas, senior utility Jordan Oladokun, and Jackson Jr., again, as a punter).
Eugenio, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound weakside defensive end, ranked third in the state in sacks (17), combined with 42 total tackles, seven hurries, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles (one for touchdown) and two pick-six interceptions across 10 games.
A consensus four-star prospect, Eugenio already has more than 30 scholarship offers, including several power five conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12) from the likes of Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oregon, West Virginia and many others.
Gaither senior quarterback Kiael Kelly was named a Class 6A All-State honorable mention after leading his team to the regional finals and an 11-1 mark. Kelly has signed to play football at Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana. (Courtesy of Gaither High School)
Jackson Jr., an Ave Maria University signee, also showed why he was deserving of dual All-State designations.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound outside backer in 11 games tallied 67 tackles (including 16 for loss), eight sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumble recoveries. Also, as the team's punter, he averaged 39.9 yards per punt on 25 attempts, including a long of 55 yards and four pinned inside the opposing 20-yard line.
Gaither's offense, meanwhile, was paced by Kelly, a Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana) signee.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound dual-threat signal caller completed 63% of his throws for 1,594 yards, 16 touchdowns and four picks, plus 399 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, across 10 games.
His father is Kenny Kelly, a former starting quarterback at the University of Miami, who also played Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals in the early 2000s; the elder Kelly also was a four-sport letterman at Tampa Catholic High School in baseball, basketball, football and track.
Fellow Gaither standouts — Vanburen (nine sacks), Thomas (15 tackles for loss, three sacks), and Oladokun (1,157 all-purpose yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions) also put up showy statistics.
Steinbrenner senior linebacker Austin Brannen earned a Class 8A All-State honorable mention after posting a team-leading 83 tackles in seven games. He's headed to Campbell University, in Bules Creek, North Carolina. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School)
Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area celebrated multiple selections on the All-State list, too.
Steinbrenner High School (8A) had the next most among local schools with three All-State representatives — running back Deon Silas, senior linebacker Austin Brannen and sophomore kicker Collin Young each were named as an honorable mention.
Silas — an Iowa State signee — tallied 1,265 all-purpose yards (771 rushing yards, 357 receiving yards, 185 return) and 14 touchdowns in just five contests.
Brannen — a Campbell (Bules Creek, North Carolina) signee posted a team-leading 83 tackles (including four for loss) in seven games, plus 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. (The 6-foot, 220-pound backer capped his Warriors varsity career with 366 tackles.)
Young was perfect on 28 extra points, and made five of six field goal attempts, including a long of 42 yards.
Meantime, five area programs claimed two All-State selections apiece — Carrollwood Day School (2A), Wharton High School (Class 8A), Wiregrass Ranch High School (7A), Zephyrhills High School (5A) and Zephyrhills Christian Academy (2A).
For Carrollwood Day, senior tight end Michael Trigg and senior defensive tackle Desmond Mamudi took first-team 2A All-State honors.
Carrollwood Day School tight end Michael Trigg collected a Class 2A All-State first-team recognition. The highly touted athlete is headed to the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, where he'll play football and basketball. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)
Trigg led the Patriots with 30 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns in seven games, while Mamudi posted a team-leading 13 sacks in eight games, plus 39 tackles (16 for loss) and a forced fumble.
The pair of highly-touted prospects are poised to make an impact at iconic national brands in the Division I FBS ranks, coming from a small private school.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Trigg has signed to play football and basketball at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, while the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Mamudi is headed to Virginia Tech.
For Wharton, junior pass-rushing outside linebacker Daveon Crouch earned second-team 8A All-State, while teammate Henry Griffith, also a junior backer, took 8A All-State honorable mention.
Both spurred the Wildcats to a 7-2 mark — the program's best since 2015 — and a stifling defense that surrendered just 10.1 points per game, on average.
The 6-foot-3 210-pound Crouch collected 12 sacks in nine contests, along with 62 tackles (eight for loss), six forced fumbles and two interceptions.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Griffith added a team-leading 82 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games.
At Wiregrass Ranch, senior tight end Grady Clower and sophomore athlete Bryson Rodgers collected 7A All-State honorable mentions.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Clower, who'll join the University of Central Florida as a preferred walk-on, hauled in 10 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Rodgers led all Bulls receivers with 47 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a 70-yard long, across eight games.
Wiregrass Ranch sophomore wideout Bryson Rodgers received a Class 7A All-State honorable mention. He led all Bulls receivers with 47 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School)
For Zephyrhills, junior linebacker Maguire Neal was named second-team 5A All-State, and senior tailback Zyre Roundtree picked up an honorable mention nod.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Neal registered a team-leading 13 sacks in 11 contests, plus 51 tackles (25.5 for loss) and four forced fumbles. He also is a track star, recently breaking long-held school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Roundtree totaled 899 rushing yards on 122 carries (7.4 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns in 10 games, including four 100-yard games.
At Zephyrhills Christian, freshman safety Fred Adams took second-team 2A All-State, while junior defensive back Quavious Cook earned an honorable mention.
The 5-foot-10, 175 pound Adams tied for ninth-most interceptions in the state with six in seven games, plus 12 passes defensed and 28 tackles.
Cook, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound cornerback, wasn't too far behind, collecting four picks, five passes defensed and 34 tackles (including two for loss).
Elsewhere, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (Independent), Cypress Creek High School (4A), Land O' Lakes High School (6A) and Pasco High School (6A) each had one representative on an All-State roster.
Bishop McLaughlin junior tailback Adrian Miller III was an Independent All-State honorable mention — racking up 1,000 rushing yards on 90 carries (11.1 yards per carry) for 10 touchdowns, including a long run of 79 yards and four 100-plus yard contests.
Cypress Creek junior quarterback Owen Walls was a 4A All-State honorable mention — completing 54.6% of his throws for 1,233 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions, including a long pass of 89 yards.
Land O' Lakes senior defensive end Zavian McKinon was a 6A All-State honorable mention — tallying 12.5 sacks and 43 tackles (including 12 for loss).
Pasco senior linebacker Gabriel Barnes was a 6A All-State honorable mention — leading his team in tackles (99), tackles for loss (13.5), hurries (11), sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (three).
There were no All-State representatives in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area from Classes 3A or 1A.
Last year, 18 players from four local schools earned various All-State honors.
Daveon Crouch, Wharton, junior, defensive line (second team defense)
Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, senior, running back (honorable mention)
Henry Griffith, Wharton, junior, linebacker (honorable mention)
Austin Brannen, Steinbrenner, senior, linebacker (honorable mention)
Collin Young, Steinbrenner, sophomore, kicker (honorable mention)
Grady Clower, Wiregrass Ranch, senior, tight end (honorable mention)
Bryson Rodgers, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore, athlete (honorable mention)
Mario Eugenio, Gaither, junior, defensive line (first team defense)
Willie Jackson Jr., Gaither, senior, linebacker (second team defense)
Kiael Kelly, Gaither, senior, quarterback (honorable mention)
Asa Vanburen, Gaither, senior, defensive line (honorable mention)
Zavian McKinon, Land O' Lakes, senior, defensive line (honorable mention)
Tawfiq Thomas, Gaither, junior, defensive line (honorable mention)
Gabriel Barnes, Pasco, senior, linebacker (honorable mention)
Jordan Oladokun, Gaither, senior, utility (honorable mention)
Jackson Jr., Gaither, senior, punter (honorable mention)
Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, junior, linebacker (second team defense)
Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, senior, running back (honorable mention)
Owen Walls, Cypress Creek, junior, quarterback (honorable mention)
Michael Trigg, Carrollwood Day, senior, tight end (first team offense)
Desmond Mamudi, Carrollwood Day, senior, defensive line (first team defense)
Fred Adams, Zephyrhills Christian, freshman, defensive back (second team defense)
Quavious Cook, Zephyrhills Christian, junior, defensive back (honorable mention)
Adrian Miller III, Bishop McLaughlin, junior, running back (honorable mention)
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Adrian Miller III, Asa Vanburen, Austin Brannen, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Bryson Rodgers, Carrollwood Day School, Collin Young, Cypress Creek High School, Daveon Crouch, Deon Silas, Desmond Mamudi, Fred Adams, Gabriel Barnes, Gaither High School, Grady Clower, Henry Griffith, Jordan Oladokun, Kiael Kelly, Land O' Lakes High School, Maguire Neal, Mario Eugenio, MaxPreps, Michael Trigg, Owen Walls, Pasco High School, Quavious Cook, Steinbrenner High School, Tawfiq Thomas, Wharton High School, Willie Jackson Jr., Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zavian McKinon, Zephyrhills Christian Academy, Zephyrhills High School, Zyre Roundtree
Watch these locals during 2021 MLB season
April 6, 2021 By Kevin Weiss
The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season is officially here —with more normalcy, to boot.
Following last year's COVID-19 pandemic-delayed and shortened season that saw the World Series played at its first-ever neutral site in Arlington, Texas, America's pastime has returned back to its traditional 162-game schedule on time, April 1 — with live fans allowed back in stadiums.
Sure, quirks remain.
For instance, the Toronto Blue Jays are starting off the season playing "home" games in Dunedin —amid Canadian-U.S. border restrictions.
For the most part, though, the peanuts and Cracker Jacks will be a flowing much like they were in simpler times.
As the big league season gets into full swing, there are several ballplayers, and a manager, that have their roots in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — and are expected to make major contributions to the show.
Here's a rundown on some of those, with local connections.
Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is expected to play a major bullpen role for the San Diego Padres this season. (File)
Austin Adams is seeking a more pronounced role in 2021 on a contending San Diego Padres squad after garnering limited action last year — where he posted a 4.50 ERA, 12.5 WHIP and seven strikeouts in four innings pitched following offseason knee surgery.
Some experts project the 29-year-old, 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty will have a breakout season, thanks to a high-spin rate fastball and slider, which generate plenty of swings and misses.
But, he'll begin the season on the 10-day injured list with what's described as a minor elbow issue, preventing him from making a spring appearance since March 7.
Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009.
He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.
Adams' high school pedigree led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that achieved its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.
He then was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. He also spent time with the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners organizations.
His road to the big leagues was lengthy, having thrown more than 250 innings across five minor league seasons before making his MLB debut in 2017 with the Nationals (from where he was traded to by Los Angeles in late 2016).
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product
Following several seasons of sustained solid output with the St. Louis Cardinals, John Gant has secured the organization's fifth starter spot to begin the regular season.
The 28-year-old Gant exhibited enough in spring training, making four appearances (three starts) and posting a 4.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty has held a variety of pitching roles entering his sixth big league campaign, including a mid- and late-inning bullpen arm in 2020, turning in a 2.40 ERA, 1.076 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 15 innings.
Gant is known for having one of the more unique windups in all of baseball, whereby he takes a couple left-footed toe taps, then pauses before firing off a pitch.
Part of his repertoire is a changeup nicknamed "The Vulcan," which involves gripping the ball between the middle and ring fingers. Its nicknamed after the Vulcan salute used by Spock in the Star Trek series.
Gant has other interesting baseball footnotes, too.
He earned 11 wins in relief in 2019, the most of any reliever that year and most by a Cardinals relief pitcher since Al Hrabosky had 13 in 1975. Also, in 2018, he became the only player in Major League history to have hit at least two home runs while never having reached base safely by any other means.
The pitching standout signed with the New York Mets out of high school and spent five years in the minors before making his big league debut in 2016 with the Atlanta Braves, then was traded to the Cardinals that offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Nate Pearson is an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School product.
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Nate Pearson enters the 2021 season on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right groin suffered in spring training, but is expected to make substantial contributions to a Toronto Blue Jays poised for a second straight playoff berth — as he was all but penciled in to be the team's No. 2 starter before multiple injury setbacks.
One of the game's top-rated prospects, Pearson made his MLB debut last season, finishing the year with a 4.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.
The 24-year-old, 6-foot-6, 250-pound righty flamethrower is regarded for a fastball that regularly touches triple digits, plus a low-to-mid 90s slider and a developing changeup.
Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.
Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami's Florida International University, then transferred to the College of Central Florida in Ocala. There, he was named the Rawlings/Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year, and subsequently selected by the Blue Jays in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, signing for a $2.45 million bonus.
Pearson has proceeded to shine at each level of the minors, boasting a combined 2.19 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 119 strikeouts across 123.1 innings from rookie ball through Triple-A.
Staying healthy and available will be key.
Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado is a Gaither High product.
Oscar Mercado was one of the Cleveland Indians' final spring training cuts and optioned to Triple-A Columbus, but expect to see the speedy centerfielder garner some action sometime this season if others get hurt or otherwise underwhelm over the course of the long-winded 162-game regular season.
Reports indicate the decision by the team's front office and coaching staff was to help boost 26-year-old's confidence following a subpar 2020 campaign where he hit a paltry .128 with a .348 OPS in 36 games.
His spring training numbers didn't fare much better, batting .214 with a .527 OPS in 28 at-bats.
This is all a far cry from his breakout rookie season in 2019 where the 6-foot-2, 197-pound Mercado batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.
Getting more reps on a hitting program out of the pressure and spotlight of the major league club should help Mercado's cause going forward.
A native of Colombia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old. He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns and ranked among the nation's top prep middle infielders.
Following high school, Mercado was picked by St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (57th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft, signing with the club for a $1.5 million signing bonus. He spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018.
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High alum
Local tie: Lutz native, Gaither High School
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash last year managed his hometown franchise to heights it never before reached — Game 6 of the World Series.
The seventh-year manager and his team are hoping for a similar historical encore, albeit with an altered roster that blends in plenty new faces, particularly on the pitching side, and already enters the season with a handful of key injuries.
But, the reigning American League Manager of the Year surely has myriad solutions in the way of ever-changing batting orders, openers, platoons, shifts, and mixing and matching the rotation and bullpen. His reputation for fostering a loose, welcoming clubhouse to settle players shouldn't hurt, either.
The question is if the 43-year-old Cash and company can lead the Rays to a third straight playoff berth amid an AL East division that features a financially beefier New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays rosters, plus the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.
The Rays are once again an underdog, as many media outlets peg them for a third- or even fourth-place finish in the division and winning fewer than 90 regular season contests.
The respected skipper is a key cog to proving naysayers wrong.
Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz.
Cash is a baseball legacy of sort, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.
Others to follow:
• Frank German, Boston Red Sox, pitcher: This Bishop McLaughlin product joined the Boston Red Sox in January, in a trade with the New York Yankees, who had selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of University of North Florida. The 23-year-old German was a non-roster invitee to Red Sox spring training, where he faced 14 batters across three innings before a reassignment. German has posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 128 innings across 111.1 innings of the minors, between rookie ball and Single-A.
• Joe Hudson, Pittsburgh Pirates, catcher: This Odessa native who prepped at Tampa Jesuit (and college at Notre Dame) played in nine regular season games last season with the Seattle Mariners then signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. The 29-year-old Hudson enjoyed a strong spring training as a Pirates non-roster invitee, collecting five hits (including a homer) in 13 at-bats across nine games, which may be credited to a revamped swing.
• CJ Van Eyk, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher: The Lutz native and Steinbrenner product has yet to play in a minor league game since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Florida State University. However, the well-rounded 22-year-old righty thrower could be a quick riser in the Toronto Blue Jays system, considering his college experience and limited action in spring training as a non-roster invitee.
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Austin Adams, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Boston Red Sox, CJ Van Eyk, Cleveland Indians, Frank German, Gaither High School, Joe Hudson, John Gant, Kevin Cash, Major League Baseball, MLB, Nate Pearson, Oscar Mercado, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Steinbrenner High School, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
Wesley Chapel native relishes second shot at 'American Idol'
March 30, 2021 By Kevin Weiss
Wesley Chapel native Zach D'Onofrio made his first brief appearance on ABC's hit reality television show "American Idol" back in 2018.
Then he was a timid 17-year-old Wiregrass Ranch High School student who perhaps came away best known for his colorful sock collection, before being eliminated during the show's "Hollywood Week" competition in Los Angeles.
Wesley Chapel native Zach D'Onofrio wowed 'American Idol' judges with his rendition of Billy Joel's 'New York State of Mind,' during a March 21 episode to advance to the second round of ABC's hit reality television series. The 20-year-old college student's run ended shortly thereafter, during the duet challenge of the competition. (Courtesy of Gigi Stevens/Freemantle)
D'Onofrio's second chance at stardom proved more fruitful.
Entering as a more seasoned and confident 20-year-old college sophomore studying at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, D'Onofrio aimed to advance farther in the competition and to have a more enjoyable experience overall.
Mission accomplished for D'Onofrio.
He made it to the second round of "Hollywood Week" thanks to his rendition of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind," as part of the show's genre challenge.
He also had previously impressed celebrity judges — Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie — in a live audition broadcast March 14 singing "Golden Slumbers" by The Beatles solo, and "Falling" by Harry Styles with girlfriend and former "Idol" contestant Catie Turner.
However, D'Onofrio's run ended in the show's duets challenge on March 22, where showrunners paired him with Sloane Simon, a 16-year-old high school cheerleader from the Pittsburgh area.
Together, they belted out a cover of "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates.
Following the aired performance, Perry said of D'Onofrio: "Listen, I believe in you. You really have grown and overcome."
In the same breath, however, the Grammy-nominated pop star said both D'Onofrio and his duet partner "need more experience" and "it's not the time" for them to continue in the competition.
But, she later added this of D'Onofrio on the broadcast: "Next time he comes back, he's going to show us — the underdog always wins, always."
Despite a rejection witnessed by millions of viewers nationwide, D'Onofrio came away pleased to have achieved more compared to his first go-round, thanks in part to countless choir and voice lessons taken the past couple years.
He also left with several friendships forged with other talented contestants throughout his appearance on the show.
He traded in his unique socks for showy, colorful sweaters, too.
"My whole thing the second time was getting out of my shell, and I really did think I got out of my shell," D'Onofrio told The Laker/Lutz News in a recent phone interview.
"I definitely felt better the second time. I just didn't want to get cut earlier than I did the first time. I just wanted to make it farther, that was my main goal, and I did."
D'Onofrio acknowledged that he felt more comfortable this time performing in front of the daunting star-studded cast of judges — who are among the world's all-time best-selling artists in their respective genres. After all, it wasn't the first time he performed for them.
"I definitely was more confident, because I was like, 'Yeah, they know me, I've done this before,' like it really wasn't that bad," said D'Onofrio, who grew up in the Seven Oaks neighborhood in Wesley Chapel.
"I just saw (the judges) as people this time, instead of figures, because they really do give advice, and talk to you heart-to-heart and it feels real, because some things on TV are sometimes fake, obviously, but when you're actually there in person and you can connect person to person, it just feels really nice."
D'Onofrio began singing around his junior year of high school, making his talent known at Dreamhouse Theatre in Lutz, which was then owned by his family.
The budding singer-songwriter adeptly plays the piano, electric guitar and ukulele, and fancies himself an old soul at heart — with a passion for oldies and classics music dating to the 1940s era.
"It just feels right when I sing those types of songs," said D'Onofrio, who lists Billy Joel among his favorites.
"That was kind of my goal with "American Idol," to introduce the new generation of people that maybe aren't familiar with that type of music…so it's like taking older songs and just making them fun and new and that's kind of my goal, just so people don't dislike oldies."
Newfound celebrity
While D'Onofrio said no music labels have reached out to him since his latest "Idol" appearance, he's received offers to perform at some local piano and jazz bars in Tampa Bay.
His college also has been quite supportive of his career, hosting an "Idol" watch party and has "offered a lot of really cool opportunities," such as on-campus performances.
He's also acquired a certain level of fame — from getting verified on Instagram to having fans reach out to him on social media from Argentina, Brazil and Philippines, and other places.
Even former "Idol" contestant Clark Beckham, who finished runner-up on the show in 2015, reached out to him for words of encouragement.
Every once in a while, D'Onofrio is even recognized on campus, or about town.
But, people tend to be timid about approaching him.
"At school, I get so many stares," he said, noting he realizes it's because of his American Idol appearances.
He doesn't say anything, because he thinks that would make them feel awkward.
"People want to say something but they never do, and I'm like, 'I'm not scary, I swear, it'll be OK.'"
Music is the motivation
D'Onofrio continues to make music from his college dorm room — which he's transformed into a makeshift studio.
He also collaborates on projects with a friend through FaceTime calls.
He plans to release a single titled, "Don't Leave," in late April, which he describes as "a pop piano ballad."
He's also working to produce and release an EP album by summertime.
Now the lingering question: Could the third time be the charm for D'Onofrio, on "American Idol" or another reality television singing competition?
At the moment, D'Onofrio is focused on finding success as an independent artist and pursuing a degree in music management.
But he hasn't closed the door on music competitions.
"I'm sure I'll audition again just to see," he said.
But he doesn't know if that will be to "American Idol" or "America's Got Talent" or "The Voice."
If he makes a return to "Idol," he'd like to make it to at least round three.
While he's exited the show this year, 19-year-old Alanis Sophia, of Dade City, remains active in the competition.
Filed Under: Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: ABC, Alanis Sophia, American Idol, Clark Beckham, Dreamhouse Theatre, Florida Southern College, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Seven Oaks, Sloane Simon, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zach D'Onofrio
New partnership aims to prepare tomorrow's workforce
March 9, 2021 By B.C. Manion
Pasco County Schools has launched a new CTE Career Advisory Council aimed at helping the district's graduates prepare for the world of work — while, at the same time, giving employers a chance to weigh in on what skills are needed for employees to be successful.
The advisory council also aims to give local businesses a chance to help develop the community's future workforce.
Kristine Hensley, a career counselor at Wiregrass Ranch High School and Jennifer Batchelor, a career specialist in the district's Career and Technical Education (CTE) division, explained the new advisory council during a recent breakfast Zoom session, and invited members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber to get involved.
The advisory council's work has the potential to affect thousands of students enrolled in career and technical courses and programs across the district, Batchelor said.
"Currently in Pasco County, we have programs of study, or academies, that fit into 13 of the National Career Clusters. Within CTE — Career and Technical Ed — in Pasco County Schools, we've got 574 courses that are specific to those programs.
"We've got 17,000 middle and high school students — over 17,000 middle school and high school students — that are currently enrolled in one of these courses, or programs of study," she said.
Previously, schools had their own advisory councils. This new approach puts the focus on career fields, with the aim to improve the district's preparation of students, as well as expand their opportunities to get real-world experiences.
Concerns about keeping people safe during COVID has had an impact on opportunities that are currently available, but once things open up, the district hopes that will change, Batchelor said.
"We're going to be looking for experiential learning opportunities. We need our students to get hands-on experience," said.
Besides learning about occupations and jobs, the idea is to get students out to see how what they're learning plays out in the workplace.
"They need to be out there seeing what it's like in the real world," Batchelor said.
There will be many different ways to get involved — through sharing expertise or providing suggestions on curriculum, to job-shadowing or offering other ways for students to get a real feel for the world of work.
"Work-based learning experiences are key for these students," Batchelor said.
Hensley, career specialist at Wiregrass, told the chamber members, via Zoom: "Your involvement will be key to making sure that we are actually aligning what we're teaching to what all of you need."
Besides inviting chamber members to get involved, both Batchelor and Hensley encouraged them to put out the word to others who might want to get involved.
The advisories are career-focused and will help students across the district, rather than at any particular school, Batchelor said.
She added: "There are a lot of ways to help these students figure out what they are going to do, once they leave high school."
Those interested in getting involved, or learning more, should contact Pam Willoughby at
or Jen Batchelor at
Filed Under: Education, Local News Tagged With: CTE Career Advisory Council, Jennifer Batchelor, Kristine Hensley, North Tampa Bay Chamber, Pasco County Schools, Wiregrass Ranch High School


Technology impacts how we work, learn, live, and heal; however, it quickly becomes obsolete and requires change while our built environments are intended to last. Hardware and software, as well as collaborative and cloud-based approaches will continue to evolve. Demands for connectivity, access, and power will only increase. Our approach creates a flexible infrastructure that effectively manages physical and technological change in occupied spaces without requiring construction demolition, providing an intelligent and scalable building infrastructure that is future-proof.


When you log on to a computer at University West and open the browser, you'll notice that you have several different drives (e. g. H:). Here is a brief description what they mean and what they contain.
The Home directory is a personal, secure area where you can save files that you are working on. Whenever you log on to the university's system you are automatically connected to your own saved files. The home directory is located under "Computer" and has a name that corresponds with your username.
Your home directory works just like a folder. You can create files and folders, and delete and rename them. The size of your home directory is limited to 2GB. The home directory is located on the university's server and is beeing backed up on a regular basis.
is used by various software installed on university computers including settings files. You can not save anything here.
Here teachers can upload files and folders that may be needed before and during a laboratory experiment. Students can open or copy files that are here, but can not save anything.
is an area where all students can save and delete files temporarily, so here you should not save files you want to keep. Important to know is that the IT department can NOT restore files that disappeared from T: \. IT department cleans this area periodically and deletes all files.
The files in the Home directory can also be accessed from any internet connected computer via the system My Files. Go to My Files at the bottom of this page or by logging in to MyPage.
It is good to have multiple copies of the most important files.
USB flash drives are good but they can easily break or get lost. Be sure to store your files on at least one more drive e.g. your homedirectory, H:.
Do not save any files in "My Documents" on the university's computers. My documents is connected to the local disk drive C: \ and the files here can be deleted at any time. You have to actively choose to save at H:.


The bar is set high at Little Engine Wines, which has three tiers of wine – silver, gold and platinum. Silver is the entry level.
"I am trying to make silvers to compete with other people's reserves," winemaker Scott Robinson says.
He also acknowledges that the term, "reserve," does not have the credibility that one would expect. The term is used rather loosely among wineries and there are no standards defining it.
The winery made its first vintage in 2014 and opened its Naramata Road wine shop in 2016. As the estate vineyards come into production, the majority of the 4,000 cases being made each year is in the gold tier of quality. It is the ambition of Steven French, who owns the winery with his wife, Nicole, that the platinum tier wines will emerge as the volume leaders, at least in the best vintages.
Given the quality of the current releases, that is not an unreasonable target.
Former Calgarians, Steven and Nicole bought an orchard property in 2011 at the start of the Naramata Bench. Here, they built their home and, while doing that, replaced the fruit trees with vineyard. Subsequently, they bought a second property on Naramata Road for more vines and a winery. More recently, they acquired an adjacent property that has been planted primarily to Pinot Noir this spring. In total, they own or control about 25 acres of vineyard on the Naramata Bench.
Estate-grown grapes are critical to the quality of the wines that Little Engine sets out to make. "That's where we have 100% control over keeping the crops down: three tons an acre for Merlot and Chardonnay and two tons an acre for Pinot Noir," Scott says.
Scott's first career was in kinesiology. In 2005, he began splitting his time between that career and working harvests in the Okanagan. In 2008, he enrolled in a master's program in winemaking at the University of Adelaide. He considered staying in Australia until he was recruited in 2009 by La Frenz Winery, another star on the Naramata Bench.
He gets that with superbly grown fruit and with the cellar tools that are key to making premium wines. The Little Engine cellar has, for a small winery, a significant amount of new French oak, including a number of larger format puncheons. These allow Scott to ferment and age the Platinum Chardonnay, for example, entirely in new oak without having oak flavours overwhelm the palate.
The house style at Little Engine is wines – in every tier – that are packed with flavour. The reds are big in structure and bold in texture. The wines are approachable on release but clearly age-worthy. None is inexpensive but none is disappointing. Here, you get what you pay for.
Here are notes on the current releases. The platinum wines, for the most part, are limited to the winery's wine club and to the tasting room.
Little Engine Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Silver ($30). This wine begins dramatically with aromas of lime and guava. On the palate, the fruit is intense, with layers of flavour – lime, apple and a medley of tropical fruits. The texture is rich, with bright acidity giving the wine a long and refreshing finish. 93.
Little Engine Chardonnay 2016 Silver ($30). The wine begins with aromas of citrus accented with a hint of toasty oak. The palate is rich with a medley of fruit flavours including citrus and apple subtly mingled with oak. The wine has a bright, fresh and lingering finish. 93.
Little Engine Chardonnay 2016 Gold ($55). This barrel-fermented Chardonnay is bold in every way, with aromas of marmalade and butterscotch leading to quite voluptuous flavours of ripe apple mingled with marmalade and framed with toasty oak notes. The unctuous flavours persist on the long finish. 93.
Little Engine Chardonnay 2016 Platinum ($NA). This wine was fermented entirely in new French oak, including puncheons. The oak is well integrated, adding hints of toast to the buttery flavours of ripe mango and marmalade. The flavours are rich and layered, with a touch of spice on the finish. This is an elegantly polished wine. 95.
Little Engine Pinot Noir 2016 Silver ($35). This wine, which was aged in French oak (30% new), begins with aromas of cherry and strawberry. These are echoed on the palate, mingled with spice on the savoury finish. The ripe, silky tannins give the wine a velvet texture. 92.
Little Engine Pinot Noir 2016 Gold ($55). Half of this wine was aged in puncheons, with 57% of the barrels and puncheons new. The puncheons moderate the oak expression while softening the texture of the wine. There are dark fruit aromas. The palate is plush, with flavours of black cherry mingled with mocha and spice. The wine has the complex savoury flavours on the finish sometimes called "forest floor." 94.
Little Engine Pinot Noir 2016 Platinum ($NA). Eighty-nine percent of this wine was aged in new oak, adding bold spicy aromas and flavours mingled with layers of spicy dark fruit This fleshy wine has both power and elegance, with a structure designed for a long life in the cellar. 94.
Little Engine Merlot 2016 Silver ($35). The wine begins with aromas of cassis and blackberry. The palate is packed with ripe flavours of black cherry, mulberry and black currant. There is a long finish with notes of spice and dark fruit. The texture is firm but the wine is approachable now. 92.
Little Engine Merlot 2016 Gold ($55). This is a muscular wine with powerful aromas of cassis and black cherry. On the palate there are flavours of black currant, black cherry and plum, with layers of concentration. Dark fruit flavours and spice persist on the long finish. 94.
Little Engine Merlot 2016 Platinum ($NA). This is a big, powerful wine built for long-term aging. It has aromas and flavours of black cherry, plum and fig with spicy dark fruit on the finish. The texture is rich and concentrated. 96.
Little Engine Rosé 2017 ($25). This is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Merlot. Dark in colour, it has aromas of cherries and strawberries. On the palate, the wine has layers of fruit and delivers a lingering finish. 92.


text:
package querqy.lucene.rewrite;

import org.apache.lucene.index.IndexReader;

import java.io.IOException;

/**
 * Created by rene on 11/01/2016.
 */
public class ConstantFieldBoost implements FieldBoost {

    public static final ConstantFieldBoost NORM_BOOST = new ConstantFieldBoost(1f);

    final float boost;

    public ConstantFieldBoost(float boost) { this.boost = boost; }

    @Override
    public float getBoost(String fieldname, IndexReader indexReader)
            throws IOException {
        return boost;
    }

    @Override
    public void registerTermSubQuery(String fieldname,
                                     TermSubQueryFactory termSubQueryFactory,
                                     querqy.model.Term sourceTerm) {
    }

    @Override
    public String toString(String fieldname) {
        return "^ConstantFieldBoost(" + fieldname + "^" + boost + ")";
    }

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object o) {
        if (this == o) return true;
        if (o == null || getClass() != o.getClass()) return false;

        ConstantFieldBoost that = (ConstantFieldBoost) o;

        return Float.compare(that.boost, boost) == 0;

    }

    @Override
    public int hashCode() {
        return (boost != +0.0f ? Float.floatToIntBits(boost) : 0);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
La McLaren MP4/14 è una vettura del Team McLaren utilizzata nel Campionato mondiale di Formula 1 1999. I piloti erano Mika Häkkinen (nº 1) e David Coulthard (nº 2). Le vittorie totali dei due piloti sono di 7 gare su 16, mentre i ritiri sono stati 12.

La vettura
Il motore era un Mercedes-Benz V10 da 3000 cm³ (come previsto dal regolamento) che sviluppava oltre 780 cavalli a 17.600 g/m abbinato a un cambio McLaren/TAG longitudinale semiautomatico a 7 rapporti. Il peso del motore era di appena 100 kg. In tutto, durante la stagione 1999 ci sono state 3 evoluzioni del motore. Gli pneumatici erano Bridgestone.

Scheda tecnica

Carreggiata ant.: 1422 mm
Carreggiata post.: 1397 mm
Cambio: 7 marce + retro a comando automatico
Cerchi: 13"
Motore: Mercedes Benz FO 110H V10, 10 cilindri 2997 cm³
Potenza max: 780 CV circa

Risultati

(Il grassetto indica le pole position, il corsivo i giri veloci)

Bibliografia
Libro "McLaren - The cars 1964-2008" di William Taylor ISBN 978-1-902351-32-2

Altri progetti

Vetture di Formula 1 McLaren
Vetture di Formula 1 1999

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Oh London. You were my first overseas destination that I visited when I was still an infant and I remember many other family holidays exploring this amazing city. As an adult it still remains one of my favorite places. I might be a bit biased as my family is all originally from London but I have yet to meet someone who didn't like this city.
What is there to love? Museums. Sights. Shops. Food. Yes - the food. Many people still consider English food to be fried and greasy. And bad. But oh how things have changed! Nowadays London is full of ethnic restaurants, gastropubs and fine dining. Some of the best Indian food I've had was in London.
But back to the sights and museums - Tower of London, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace (open to visitors summer only), Tate Museums, National Portrait Museum, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Victoria and Albert Museum... to name a few.
London is also one of the most kid-friendly destinations. There's a zoo, plenty of green parks and playgrounds, science and natural history museums, the Tower of London and Harry Potter sights. And since everyone speaks English (albeit with accents) it can also be a great destination for the first-time European traveler.
London also offers several day-trip options including to Windsor Castle, the spa town of Bath, the scenic Cotswolds (I grew up in this area and it is beautiful!), Cliffs of Dover... once again to name a few. You could easily spend a week or more focusing only on London and surrounding areas.
Ready to go? Contact me today so we can get started on your vacation plans!