BSAC Announces Addition Of New Team Head Coach
By Tamas Mondovics
The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center (BSAC) recently announced an addition to its Blue Wave Swim staff: Justin Correia is taking the title of head age group coach. Blue Wave swim team Head Coach Mio Vasic is proud to have Correia on board ensuring the center’s continued success. As a Florida native, Correia, a Burns Middle and Bloomingdale High School graduate, is by no means new to the area or to the BSAC swimming program. He brings a total of 13 years of head coaching experience, including four years as head swim coach and program director of the Swim Macon Aquatic Center and nine years at the Aquatic Club of Temple Terrace. “I am looking forward to utilizing all of my training and experience here at BSAC, “Correia said while emphasizing his focus on implementing a better progression routine for all athletes. “I am working hard on helping our young swimmers be able to make the necessary transition as they get older and swim against stronger opponents,” he said, but added, “I also want them to have fun in the water.”Correia, who has produced multiple Junior National, Southern Sectional, senior champions, junior Olympians, and state high school champions, specifically mentioned the positive outlook and atmosphere amidst BSAC’s diverse program choice.“There is something for everyone here, at every level,” he said.Some of the Blue Wave swim team’s recent success is owed to athletes such as 9-year-old Celi Guzman and 14-year-old Barbara Caraballo, both of whom swam well at the Nationals Championship in Puerto Rico. Guzman earned four gold and two silver medals, while Caraballo earned 11 gold medals, breaking 10 Puerto Rican records and six Blue Wave swim team records.Also on Saturday, May 8, the St. Petersburg Masters Club, along with St. Petersburg Aquatics, hosted the Hurricane Man 2.4 Mile and the Pass-A-Grill 1K Challenge Open Water Swims. BSAC’s Blue Wave swim team sent 11 participants, resulting in Bailey Bowden, Matt Colvin and Jack Deedrick all winning their respective age groups, while in the 1K challenge race, Van Cates, Mary Margaret Deedrick and Brett Yonkee all won their respective age groups. While BSAC offers its high-level programs, it continues to rely upon the generous support of the community.For more information about the Blue Wave swim team, please call the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center at 689-0908 or visit www.mybsac.org.
Summer Wrestling Camp Keeps Local Youth Busy
Summer Wrestling Camp Keeps Local Youth Busy
By Tamas Mondovics
In harmony with last year’s theme, “Get Moving,” and with some extra focus on the fun factor, the Black and Blue Summer Wrestling Fun Camp, held at Riverview High School, is once again offering an opportunity for local youth to keep busy during the summer months, with Riverview High School wrestling coach William Sargable at the helm. With the attention focused on the ever-growing problem of childhood obesity, Sargable emphasized the importance of getting young people off the couch and away from the TV and the computer. “It is imperative that kids develop good eating habits and physical activity and get busy,” he said. “Our primary mission for offering the summer youth sports camp is to give area kids an opportunity to stay physically active throughout the summer.” Sargable said that without organized athletic programs and camps, it is often difficult for a parent to motivate a child to be physically active. The Black and Blue Summer Wrestling Camp was founded six years ago with the purpose to introduce wrestling to area boys who may not have an understanding of or lacked exposure to real wrestling.While wrestling is the main course, in recent years the camp actually evolved into a full sports fun camp with activities that include water-ball dodgeball, kickball, flicker football, soccer, tennis, wrestling, games (like snake-in-the-grass, capture the queen), power ball and many more.“The kids love it,” Sargable said. “At the end of each camp, the campers are rewarded for their hard work and receive a camp shirt along with a pizza party.” Camp is scheduled for Monday – Thursday. Helping with the program as camp counselors are a number of high school wrestlers who also play all the games and have just as much fun as the rest. With June’s session over, the Black and Blue Wrestling Camp is going strong and will continue with three more sessions scheduled Monday- Thursdays, July 12-15, July 26-29 and August 9-12. For more information about the camp or to sign up for one or more of the upcoming sessions, please contact Sargable at 671-6009 or e-mail William.Sargable@sdhc.k12.fl.us.
Fishhawk Wolfpack Announces Scholastic Results
Fishhawk Wolfpack Announces Scholastic Results
Staff Report
The Fishhawk Wolfpack Football and Cheerleading Association recently announced its scholastic winners. At the national level, it had nine first team members, 55 second team members and 11 honorable mention scholars. These are students that are in grades five-nine. The 50th Annual National Banquet was held in Philadelphia over Memorial Day weekend. Representing the Fishhawk Wolfpack were the following scholar athletes: Nic Ballance, Kelen Denk, Austin Ely, Jacob Methany, Nicholas Methany, Alan Rose and Jacob Russo. At the local level, Rose was presented the $500 Disney Scholarship. At the national level, Rose was presented the $1,000 Active Network Scholarship and Russo was presented the $1,000 Kellogg Scholarship. Fishhawk Wolfpack Football and Cheerleading Association is part of the Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS). Registration Coordinator Mary Owens says, “PWLS is the only national youth sports organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play. Pop Warner believes that the standards they have set give these children a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for academics and athletics that will help them develop later on in life.”Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner kids compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level, up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions, to the national level. In 2009, more than 400,000 kids participated in Pop Warner. As their numbers once again reached record levels, 280-plus first team members, more than 5,000 second team members and 2,000-plus honorable mention scholars were named as Academic All-Americans at the national level for 2008-2009. The PWLS All-American Program requires a minimum 96 percent grade point average to apply for All-American status. After the applications have been processed, Pop Warner determines National First Team All-Americans (35 football, 35 cheer per grade), National Second Team All-Americans and National Honorable Mention Scholars. If interested in registration for the 2010 season, visit the Wolfpack website, www.fhwolfpack.com, for registration forms, which include the 2010 Participant Contract and the Parental Consent Form 2010 Physical Fitness & Medical History Form. In addition, players will need to provide a birth certificate. For more information, please e-mail maryowens4@verizon.net.
Team Welcomes Adults To Go Toe To Toe In Kickball
Team Welcomes Adults To Go Toe To Toe In Kickball
By Carisa Biesecker
All those who are tired of sitting on the couch, grab your tennis shoes and head out to Bloomingdale West Park to take part in the Valrico Over 35 Kickballers this summer.Open to residents in their 30s to 50s (though none who want to play will be turned away), the co-ed kickball team will run every Wednesday, June 23-August 11, from 7-8 p.m. at Bloomingdale West Park, located at 3940 Canoga Park Dr. in Brandon, with a three-week hiatus held at the end of the eight-week “season.” Founded in January of this year through the Website meetup.com, the group has 35 members, with around 12-18 making each week’s game. Organizer and member, Belinda Missen says, “I felt there was a need for an activity group for people like me, who were interested in being active and social, yet did not necessarily consider themselves the sporty/competitive or bar-going type. This group fills the need of getting out and being active for people my age.” Residents compete on the field at no cost, with the only requirements of participation being to maintain an active membership consisting of one play every two months and “a good attitude for fun, non-competitive play,” says Missen, adding “The group’s main focus is active fun for grown ups.” Couples, to singles, to co-workers are all invited to come out and play. Residents can even bring their children out to sit on the sidelines, taking their turn at watching their mom or dad in action, showing their skills on the field. “If you are looking to get a little bit more active with some great people, then this is the group to join,” concludes Missen. For more information, call Missen at 941-448-6133 or visit the group’s Website at www.meetup.com/over35kickballers.
East Bay Softball Are The 2010 Class 5A State Champions
East Bay Softball Are The 2010 Class 5A State Champions
By Tamas Mondovics
It is safe to say that to end the season, as well as a high school career, as state champion would be on the top of the wish list of any senior student-athlete. For the East Bay High School Indians softball team such a wish is now a reality.The Indians, with Head Coach Glenn Rodriguez at the helm, were able to defeat the Niceville Eagles 2-0 in the Class 5A State Championship last month. The closest Rodriguez and his girls have ever come to winning the title was in 2001, as the program then reached the state semifinals.“It is like winning the World Series,” Rodriguez said. Interestingly, this year’s win caps another record as it marks the first state team title in the school’s 52-year history of any sport.“Our goal was to win state championship,” Rodriguez said, who has been coaching the Indians softball program for the past 13 years. In their last six games, played East Bay did not give up any runs and finished the season with a 24-7-1 record, which was enough for the program to claim to be this year’s best. While coaches and athletes celebrated their success, the festivities did not linger on the field. A celebratory luncheon and a school-wide pep rally was the following day’s order, led by Principal Sharron Morris, who could not have been any more proud of her student-athletes. “It has been fantastic,” Morris said. “School spirit is at an all-time high, especially for this time of year.”Morris also commented on the attention the school and the program have been getting since the victory, saying, “Our school is getting such positive reactions from the community. The support has been magnificent.”The East Bay High School faculty, staff and student body is now in the process of raising money to purchase championship rings for each player. The team will also travel to Tampa this month to meet the Hillsborough County Commissioners.While losing some key senior players, like star pitcher Kayla Cox and lead hitter Elizabeth Nugent, is inevitable, the Indians are sporting a talented young team, all of whom planning to return for the next season with hopes of keeping the trophy at East Bay High for another year. For more information about the program and the season’s statistics, visit www.maxpreps.com.
Brandon FC Announce WPSL Franchise
Brandon FC Announce WPSL Franchise
By Tamas Mondovics
Brandon Area Youth Soccer League (BAYSL) recently announced its decision to join the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) for the 2010 season, fusing the team as part of BAYSL’s competitive division and assuming the Brandon FC moniker. Brandon FC is scheduled to compete in the Sunshine Conference against fellow in-state members Palm Beach United, FSA Freedom, South Florida Strikers and Miami Kickers.According to BAYSL spokesperson Monika McCallum, the club’s WPSL team will now provide an opportunity for the top female soccer players from Florida to compete in one of the nation’s best women’s soccer leagues. The team will cap the youth development program in the girl’s game. The WPSL is a 50-plus national league with five conferences starting in 2010 and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL’s mission is to provide the highest level of soccer in an effort to bring affordable and quality family entertainment to the community and display positive role models for our youth while, being a stepping stone for aspiring players to Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). BAYSL Director Gary Rach spoke highly of the direction the club is taking and sees the benefits of the recent changes. “This incredible opportunity to become one of the 50 elite organizations across the country, which competes in the WPSL, is a tremendous honor for our club,” said Rach. “Our youth players will be better prepared for the college game, as they will have the opportunity to view, train and compete with women’s college players before they get there.”Brandon FC is now set to train and play its home games at the newly expanded JC Handley Park Athletic Complex, located at 3104 S. Kings Ave. in Brandon, which boasts of three new fields and a state-of-the-art turf field. The team will feature players from some of the top college programs in the South.All of this adds nicely to BAYSL and its long-time positive past serving the community as the largest youth soccer organization in the greater Brandon area. Founded in 1975, it was motivated by the mission to promote the sport of soccer with an emphasis on youth development, while providing each player the opportunity to play soccer in a supportive and rewarding environment that emphasizes fun, enjoyment and skill learning at a level that fits his or her interest and ability, and creating a challenging environment for those who seek to reach their full potential.For more information about BAYSL, visit www.brandonsoccer.com or www.wpsl.info, or e-mail media@wpslsoccer.com.
Bloomingdale Seniors Set To Play College Football
Bloomingdale Seniors Set To Play College Football
by Tamas Mondovics
The 2009-2010 fall football season may have been one that most Bloomingdale athletes and fans would likely rather forget.While the program itself was unable to produce much success, a number of individual senior athletes did perform well and up to the expectations of their coaches and scouts, resulting in walking away from the high school football program as winners. At least three of these athletes who merit the attention this year were Bloomingdale wide receiver Sean Tate, along with senior linebackers David Wright and Anthony Amos.Tate and Wright both chose to attend Belhaven College in Mississippi, while Amos signed to play the sport he loves for Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Bloomingdale football Head Coach John Booth spoke highly of his players’ commitment and dedication to do well on and off the field “All three are very hard-working kids,” Booth said, adding, “It was an absolute pleasure to coach them last year. It’s always nice to see good, hardworking, coachable kids get a chance to continue their playing.” Mentioning some of the reasons for his comment on behalf of the three players, Booth said that during the season, Tate strutted 17 catches for 241 yards for a 14-yard-per-catch average, while Wright averaged 120 tackles for the season, an average of 12 tackles per game.Amos, having missed half the season due to a knee injury, turning in an average of eight tackles per game.“Amos has a knack for getting in and laying a good hit on the ball carrier,” Booth said.As for the rest of the players, who will have to step up to the plate thanks to a number of seniors graduating, Tate had simple advice when he said, “Work as hard as you can and do not give up doing what you love.” Wright agreed when he said, “Play hard no matter the outcome,” while teammate Amos added, “Just remember, the future is not all about football, so focus on all of it, both on and off the field.”For more information about the 2009-2010 high school football season, please visit www.maxpreps.com
Motocross Racer Headed To Regional Championship
Motocross Racer Headed To Regional Championship
By Tamas Mondovics
While the other kids chase the soccer ball around or show off their talent on the basketball court, 10-year-old Apollo Beach Elementary School student Darby Harrison, turns spectator’s heads as he rides his almost 100-lb. Yamaha PW50 dirt bike. Encouraged and fully supported by his parents Jim and Karen Harrison, the young athlete has no problem staying on track, both athletically and academically. “I have maintained straight A’s since kindergarten, and continue to strive academically. School is very important to me and always comes first,” Darby said. Darby has been riding his bike for the past three years and entered his first race in January of 2008. Darby’s role models include names like Ricky Carmichael, Tim Ferry, James Stewart and Kenny Yoho. Unlike basketball, motocross makes parents experience a higher level of concern for the safety of their children, something that Jim and Karen are fully aware of. “I have to tell you that sometimes Darby riding his bike makes me very nervous,” Jim said. “But, I also know that he has had the best training, and wears the best safety gear made. He loves what he does, he is good at it and I couldn’t be happier for him.” One thing that drives Darby to success is what all sports and athletic events rightly share. “What I like the most about motocross is the competition,” he said. Claiming the start of each race as his favorite part of the sport, Darby has no doubt that motocross is the sport he wants to peruse. “I get butterflies in my stomach in anticipation of the gate dropping,” he said. “The rest is all on me to do what I have trained to do.” As it is true with most young athletes, Darby stays focused by setting both short- and long-term goals, including the Loretta Lynn Regional championship in Washington, GA, and advancing to the Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN and to race against the top 40 riders in the nation. As far as his long-term goals are concerned, Darby held true to his unwavering commitment when he said, “My ultimate goal is to go pro, and race in both the Supercross and Motocross series.” Interestingly, what he said last is likely the most important key in accomplishing his dream of becoming a professional rider. “I have a lot to learn and a long time until that happens. Like I said, we set a lot of short-term goals,” he said.Darby trains twice a week in Plant City at the Leslie Varn Ranch with a trainer from Kenny Yoho from Kenny Yoho MX Schools.For more information about the Amateur National Championship, visit www.amsoil.com/supercross/lorettalynns/lorettaLynns.aspx. To learn about Kenny Yoho MX Schools, visit www.kennyyohomxschools.com.
Ravens Repeat Champions Of 30th Saladino Baseball Tourney
Ravens Repeat Champions Of 30th Saladino Baseball Tourney
By Tamas Mondovics
At the end of the week-long event and in front of a full house, the 30th Annual Hillsborough County Schools’ Tony Saladino High School Baseball Tournament championship game welcomed the Alonso Ravens and the Plant Panthers to Brandon’s Don Powell Field.For the Panthers, reaching the finals was a huge accomplishment, according to Head Coach Dennis Braun.“Some may say that we had a slow start, but I say we did not play poorly,” Braun said. “We stayed the course, and that is why we are here today.”As for Alonso, the 6-1 championship win was much sweeter. Led by senior left-handed pitcher Brandon Johnson, who held Plant at bay by just one run while striking out six in as many innings, the Ravens have now joined Bloomingdale (1994-95) and Sickles (2001-02) in becoming repeat champions, defending their 2009 Saladino title.While area programs like Newsome, Riverview, East Bay, Durant and Spoto were eliminated in the first round, the Brandon Eagles managed to reach the semifinals but were halted by Plant. The tournament’s final day spurred some other winners as well, including Home Run Derby champion Zack Powers. The Armwood High School senior hit three third-round home runs for the title. As for the traditional Saladino scholarship, it went to Alonso graduate Adam Pendleton, who now attends the University of Tampa, having received $5,000.The biggest winners once again were the members of the Saladino family comprised of tournament hosts, Tony, 75, and Bertha, 78. Their undeniable love for the game and the young athletes, coupled with Bertha’s Kitchen which so abundantly serves coaches, players, umpires, scouts, volunteers and the media, has become legendary.For many, the event has been and will always prove to be the highlight of spring break with the regret that all participants now must wait another year to join the festivities once more.For more information about the Saladino Baseball Tournament, please visit www.saladinobaseballtournament.com.
Nelson Elementary Cheer Squad Attends Its First Competitive Event
Nelson Elementary Cheer Squad Attends Its First Competitive Event
By Tamas Mondovics
This year’s spring break has proved to be much more than just an ordinary time off from the daily grind of classes and homework assignments for a number of young athletes this season, among them a special group of Nelson Elementary School students. The 14-member Nelson Eagles cheer squad- the school’s first competitive cheerleading team- has a chance not only to show everyone what it is made of and to give its best performance to a crowd of fans and family, but to perform for those who could not attend the American Cheer Power Tournament of Champions or who prefer to watch these competitions in the comfort of their home, being that the event is to be televised on the Sun Sports channel on Tuesday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. Before that, the event is scheduled to be held live on Saturday, April 17, at the University of South Florida Sun Dome. “We are very excited to be a part of this competition,” said Nelson Elementary School third grade teacher and cheer coach Traci Kieffer. “The girls on the squad range from third to fifth grade and have been working all year long toward the goal of being a talented and respected competitive team.” The girls’ hard work also shows that they believe that it takes incredible dedication and responsibility to be successful out on the competition floor. “We have put in many hours after school on Mondays and Thursdays,” Kieffer said. As for the competition that lands at the end of spring break, Kieffer said, “While others are at the beach, the squad will continue to learn choreography and practicing for our routine.” Thanks to such dedication, it is not hard for Kieffer to speak highly of her cheerleaders’ commitment to improve, as, over the school year, she has watched the girls grow into a strong competitive squad. “They have started the season with little-to-no cheerleading experience, and I am sure that they will be nervous during the competition,” she said. “But I am positive that Nelson cheer will rise to the occasion and show Tampa Bay what a small team from Dover can do.”For more information about the upcoming American Cheer Power Tournament of Champions, please visit www.cheerpower.com.
