Wiregrass Ranch High Highlights Spring All-Conference Awards

No. 1 singles boys tennis standout Ninad Raut led the Bulls to the Class 4A State semifinals.

There was little doubt which of Wesley Chapel’s three high school athletic programs had the best spring this year — Wiregrass Ranch High.

The Bulls dominated the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East selections, capturing three team titles, three Coaches of the Year and four Players of the Year, as well as putting 25 athletes on all-SAC first teams and another 28 on second teams. 

WRH was the only area school to have at least one All-SAC first-team performer in all 10 sports offered — baseball, softball, boys weightlifting and wrestling, and boys and girls tennis, track and field and lacrosse — during the Spring 2022 season.

Softball Player of the Year Kylee Johnson, a junior shortstop, had arguably the best season ever for an area player, batting .506 with 34 RBI, 8 home runs, 10 triples and 12 doubles for a whopping slugging percentage of 1.149.

Other Bulls Players of the Year included:

• Girls lacrosse standout Luna Khatib, who scored 83 goals and had 33 assists in 17 games this season in earning POY honors for a second straight year

• No. 1 singles boys tennis standout Ninad Raut, who led the Bulls to the Class 4A State semifinals

• Hurdler Catherine Fleming, who advanced to the State championships in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles as well as the 4×100 relay and, like Khatib, was a repeat POY winner. 

Coaches Craig Havermann (girls lacrosse), Dave Wilson (boys tennis) and Mark Kantor (weightlifting) were all named Coaches of the Year after leading their respective sports at WRH to SAC championships.

Other highlights for the Bulls included:

• Brothers Maddox (sophomore infielder) and Mason McDougal (senior outfielder), who made the All-SAC first team for baseball.

• Seniors Mackenzie Smith (offense) and Alessia Lloyd (defense) and junior defender Aly Allen joined Khalib on the All-SAC lacrosse team.

• Boys tennis players Raut, Vld Shumakov, Zak Herrmann, Belal Mansour and Leonardo Rodriguez all made the All-SAC first-team, and all are juniors, so they will return next season.

• Track & Field’s Ava Schmitt, a freshman, made the first team in two events – the 1600m and 3200m.

Meanwhile, Cypress Creek High produced two SAC Players of the Year — senior infielder Ethan Petry, who led the Coyotes with a .479 batting average, 33 runs and six homers at the plate and a 5-2 record and 60 strikeouts in 42 innings as a pitcher, and freshman weightlifter Jayden Cruzado, who finished third at the Class 2A State championships in the 129-pound weight class. Cruzado also made first team All-SAC in wrestling at 129 pounds

Other highlights for Cypress Creek included senior Kione Roberson making the track & field first team in the long jump and second in the high jump, and junior Tiffany Colin making first team in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints.

Wesley Chapel High’s baseball team won the SAC title this season after going 6-2 in the conference, and the Wildcats also were represented on the All-SAC teams by girls track & field Athlete of the Year Latia Dove — a senior who advanced to the Class 2A State championships in the long jump and 4×100 relay — and 199-pound senior Jorden McCaslin, the SAC Wrestler of the Year and a competitor at the Class 2A State championships.

Other highlights for the Wildcats included McCaslin also making first team for weightlifting and second team for track (in the 4×100 relay); senior pitcher Zach Showalter (team-high .333 average, four homers, 21 RBI, 0.78 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 45 innings) making first team for baseball; and Kandace Means capping a great career (.390 batting average, 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 91 RBI in 73 games) with first-team softball honors.

Here’s all the Wesley Chapel-area choices by school:

WIREGRASS RANCH

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Weightlifting

Boys Tennis

Girls Lacrosse

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

LUNA KHALIB, GIRLS LACROSSE

NINAD RAUT, BOYS TENNIS

KYLEE JOHNSON, SOFTBALL

CATHERINE FLEMING, GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

COACHES OF THE YEAR

CRAIG HAVERMANN, GIRLS LACROSSE

DAVE WILSON, BOYS TENNIS

MARK KANTOR, BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING

FIRST TEAM PICKS

BASEBALL: Maddox McDougall, 10, INF; Mason McDougal, 12, OF.

SOFTBALL: Kylee Johnson, 11, INF; Brianna Baer, 12, OF.

BOYS LACROSSE: Jeremiah Loo, 12, Off.

GIRLS LACROSSE: Luna Khalib, 12, Off, Mackenzie Smith, 12, Off;  Alessia Lloyd, 12, Def; Aly Allen, 11, Def.

BOYS TENNIS: Ninad Raut, 11; Vlad Shumakov, 11; Zak Herrmann, 11; Belal Mansour, 11; Leonardo Rodriguez, 11.

GIRLS TENNIS: Sydney West, 11

BOYS TRACK: 4×400 relay (Riddyk Ayan, 11; Mason Spearin, 10; Joseph Medina, 11; Alexzay Rodriguez, 9)

GIRLS TRACK: Catherine Fleming, 12, 100m and 300m hurdles, 12; Ava Schmitt, 9, 1600m and 3200m.

WRESTLING: Dylan Dison, 11, 119 pounds.

WEIGHTLIFTING: Isaiah Fitzpatrick, 11, 154 pounds; Kenneth Walker, 11, 219; Devin Leathers, 11, 238.

SECOND TEAM PICKS

BASEBALL: Christopher Labraon, 12, INF.

SOFTBALL: Abigail Vyas, 12, P; Elise Eason, 12, INF; Stephanie Daly, 10. BOYS LACROSSE: Garrett Schwartz, 11, Off; Jackson Payton, 11, Def.

GIRLS LACROSSE: Bridgette Currin, 10, Def,

BOYS TENNIS: Jeremy Caruso, 11

GIRLS TENNIS: Natalie Andelova, 9; Oceane Bucaille, 12

BOYS TRACK: Izaiah Williams, 10, 200m; Riddyk Ayan, 11, Long jump; 4×800 relay (Mason Spearin, 10; Jaime Candelaria, 11; Tyler Dana, 9; Joseph Medina, 11.)

GIRLS TRACK: Maryam Khalil, 12, shot put and discus; 4×100 relay (Kenzye Gainey, 11; Amaiya Potter 11; Daylyn Brown, 9; Ashtyn Warner 11); 4×400 relay (Catherine Fleming, 12; Faith Sidwell, 12; Kenzye Gainey, 11; Amiaya Potter, 11).

WRESTLING: Kenneth Walker, 11, 219 pounds

WEIGHTLIFTING: Dylan Dison, 11, 119 pounds; Alex Cruz, 10, 139; Elijah Brown, 10, 183.

CYPRESS CREEK

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

ETHAN PETRY, BASEBALL

JAYDEN CRUZADO, WEIGHTLIFTING

FIRST TEAM PICKS

BASEBALL: Ethan Petry, 12, INF.

SOFTBALL: Charlie Montgomery, 12, INF; Reagan Alapa, 11, OF.

BOYS LACROSSE: Nicholas Vreeland, 12, Off.

GIRLS LACROSSE: Avery Smith, 11, Off; Mirando Garcia, 12, Def

BOYS TRACK: Kione Roberson, 12, Long jump

GIRLS TRACK: Tiffany Colin, 11, 100m, 200m, 400m.

WRESTLING: Jayden Cruzado, 9, 129 pounds

WEIGHTLIFTING: Jayden Cruzado, 9, 129 pounds; Matt Hensley, 11, 169.

SECOND TEAM PICKS

BASEBALL: Seamus Gallagher, 10, INF.

SOFTBALL: Miranda Schwartz, 12, INF.

BOYS LACROSSE: Ben Sheldon, 11, Off; Logan Falk, 11, Def.

GIRLS LACROSSE: Ashlynn Hunter, 10, Off; Jaidyn Davis, 11, Def

BOYS TENNIS: Kai Penalosa, 10

BOYS TRACK:  Kione Roberson, 12, High jump

WEIGHTLIFTING: Huey Wyche, 9, 129 pounds

HONORABLE MENTION

Girls tennis: Melanie Rodriguez, 10

WESLEY CHAPEL

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Baseball

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

LATIA DOVE, GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

JORDEN MCCASLIN, WRESTLING

FIRST TEAM PICKS

BASEBALL: Zach Showalter, 12, P.

SOFTBALL: Kadence Means, 12, INF; Ava Blakely, 10, OF.

GIRLS TRACK: 4×100 relay (Remiyah Harris,12; Valeria Farjardo, 10; Latia Dove, 12; Annalyse Rogers 12).

WRESTLING: Connor Maddox, 11, 154 pounds; Jorden McCaslin, 12, 199.

WEIGHTLIFTING: Jorden McCaslin, 12, 199 pounds

SECOND TEAM PICKS

BASEBALL: Zach Bice, 12, INF; Jacob Carrillo, 11, OF.

SOFTBALL: Madison Golka, 12, INF; Courtney Marks, 10, OF.

GIRLS LACROSSE: Briana Belcher, 11, Def.

BOYS TRACK: 4×100 relay (Jorden McCaslin, 12, Nehemiah Morgan, 12, Sebastian Gutierrez, 11, Jaylan Blake 12).

GIRLS TRACK: Alexi Benitez, 12, 100m hurdles; Valeria Farjardo, 10, 100m; Annalyse Rogers, 12, 200m; Latia Dove, 12, Long jump.

HONORABLE MENTION

LACROSSE: Anthony Iserino, 12, Off

BOYS TENNIS: Alexander Raatma, 11

GIRLS TENNIS: Piper Dunne, 10

Hopefully, The Doubters Will Continue To Give The KRATEs A Chance

Even before social media became a big thing, I had received criticism about my dining reviews not being “real” or that they are “pay for play” only. The fact is that when restaurants — or any businesses — advertise with us regularly, I do make sure we do a full-length dining or business feature story about those advertisers once each year.

Gary Nager Editorial

The vast majority of the restaurant stories we publish, however, are much smaller pieces — many (but not all of which are) in our “Nibbles & Bites” column near the back of every issue — that focus mainly on new openings, eateries that close and other dining news, whether they advertise with us or not.

That has never been more true than over the course of the past year, as the places to eat and drink have opened at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove. Although it’s been hard for even yours truly to keep up with all of those openings since Provisions Coffee & Kitchen opened last year, pretty much every restaurant that has opened at the KRATEs already has been featured in these pages. And, I have been proud to be the first to provide information about so many of these new places — all of which are mom & pop-owned, not chains. I also can’t explain just how excited I was about the Grand Opening event at the KRATEs on June 4 and not just because The Grove itself spends some money with us.

The bottom line is that even if you have read every one of our stories, you can’t really get a feel for how unique KRATE is or how hard the people who have opened in the container park have worked to get open and serve you without actually visiting them. 

Yes, I know some locals have posted unkind comments about some of the prices, slow service, the lack of shaded seating, the widely varying open hours and the parking at the KRATEs, but developer Mark Gold’s crown jewel of his complete revamping and expansion of The Grove is still really in its experimental phase, as many of the KRATE business owners are running their own businesses for the first time.

And, while each KRATE does have its own operating hours, pretty much all of them are open every weekend by no later than noon, so if you still haven’t checked them out and don’t want to be disappointed that the KRATE you were most excited to visit isn’t open on a Wednesday afternoon, I suggest planning to spend a weekend afternoon exploring all of the unique non-chain options you won’t find on S.R. 56, Dale Mabry or any major thoroughfare in the Tampa Bay area.

For those complaining about service issues, please recognize these facts: 1) many of the KRATEs are still brand new and learning how best to serve their greater-than-expected numbers of customers and 2) there is a serious labor shortage across this great country of ours. So, most KRATE owners and their families are providing the cooking and customer service themselves. Even the KRATEs that have been open for months are dealing with labor issues.

And, thankfully, since the whole shebang is opening during Florida’s hottest months, both the developer and the KRATE owners have started adding more outdoor seating with umbrellas (the tiki huts near the KRATE stage area are pretty cool-looking) for shade, since the air conditioned space inside even the larger repurposed shipping containers is still pretty limited. 

As for parking, as someone who recently had both knees replaced, not being able to park in the spaces directly in front of the KRATEs has definitely been an inconvenience, but a large parking lot between the south end of the container park and Outback Steak House was nearing completion as 8,000+ people descended upon the KRATE Grand Opening event on June 4. And, until that lot is open to the public, there are still plenty of pretty close spaces between the KRATEs and The Grove’s big box stores like Cost Plus World Market and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

As for the pricing of your favorite KRATE food and beverage items, I’m sure you’re aware that everything you’re buying at your local grocery store costs more now than it did even a year ago. I also hope you’ll take into consideration how much time, blood, sweat, tears and money has gone into getting the KRATEs open and that these owners are trying to recoup what they’ve shelled out — some for as much as three years, thanks to the pandemic.

The fact is that not every KRATE business open today or opening soon will still be in business six months, a year or more from now. One oft-quoted stat is that 95% of all new businesses don’t survive their first 1-5 years in business. But, I hope that this non-chain-starved community will support those who have worked so hard to bring you so many new and unique dining and shopping options.

So, please get out and visit the KRATEs and sample the Blush Wine Room, Tacos El Patron, Palani’s Hawai’i Noodles, Katie Beth’s Boutique and all the rest for yourself. 

Oh, and feel free to tell them I sent you, because, as of today, not one of them is advertising with us.

Saving Her Best For Last

Wharton’s Brooke Reif captured an elusive state title in her second-to-last race as a high senior. (Photo: Charmaine George)

When Palm Harbor University (PHU) distance ace Haley Thornton takes off in the 1600-meter run, few runners in Florida can go with her.

Wharton’s Brooke Reif knows that fact all too well. At last year’s Class 4A State Championships, the PHU junior ran away from the field, which included Reif.

At the District and Regional meets this season, Thornton did the same.

However, at the Florida State High School Class 4A Track & Field Championships on May 6, Thornton wasn’t able to run away. 

Reif simply wouldn’t let her.

Executing the perfect game plan, fueled by the dream of winning a State Championship in her final meet in high school and equipped with one of the best finishing kicks around, Reif ran the race of her life in the 1600, or one-mile race, on the way to that elusive State title.

“I just kept thinking that, as hard as the race was, how great it was going to feel afterwards,” said Reif. “And, it was amazing.”

Brooke Reif pulls away in the 1-mile run at state. (Photo courtesy of Brooke Reif)

Although Reif already has a handful of medals from past state meets, including a bronze from last year’s 1600, her last one, finally, is gold. She has had a stellar career at Wharton as a cross country and track runner, winning dozens of races and improving every year. Her winning mile time at the State meet was 4:53, a school record, to go along with her previously set record in the two-mile.

Thornton crossed in 5:00.

Reif is the seventh girl in Wharton history to win an individual State championship, and the first since London Enos (pole vault) in both 2009 & 2010. 

The daughter of former college runners Jim (her dad) and mom Rena (who was also the USF men’s and women’s cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for years), Reif has seemingly always been destined for running greatness.

And, she saved her best for last.

Thornton was a formidable foe and, in typical style, wasted little time running to the front in the State championship race. Reif, who will usually hang back in the middle of the pack before making her move later, decided this time she was going to stick with Thornton. “I knew if I let her get too far ahead, I wouldn’t be able to catch her,” Reif said. 

The fast pace — the opening lap was 67 seconds and, halfway through, the split was 2:20 — quickly winnowed the field to the two favorites, Reif and Thornton.

Reif stayed 2-3 steps behind Thornton. When the PHU runner tried to push out to a bigger lead, Reif pushed with her.

Because Reif was so close, she thinks that Thornton had to run at a faster pace than normal. Being unable to shake Reif, then, likely proved to be frustrating for the 2021 State champ.

“I knew if I stayed close enough, it would scare her,“ Reif said. “I felt good. I knew if I could stay that close, I was going to be able to pass her.”

With roughly 300 meters remaining, it was time. Using her vaunted kick, Reif surged past Thornton and into the lead.

For good.

“What she talked me through before the race is exactly what happened,” said Wharton girls track and field coach Andy Martin. “To see it happen just like that was amazing.”

Reif remembers when she first started running at Wharton, her goal was to be like the older girls on the team. 

She also wanted to set a school record. She wanted to earn a college scholarship. And, as she got better, she wanted to win a State championship.

When she packs up to move to run collegiately at the Division I University of Richmond (in Virginia) on June 15, she will have achieved all of her goals.

In her wake, she will leave a legacy for younger runners to strive for, and, of course, a banner with her picture on it to hang in the school gym, alongside all of the other State champions the school has produced. 

“My mom told me we have to pick out a picture for it,” Reif said. “I didn’t even know I got one of those. That’s going to be pretty cool.”

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant Coming To Wesley Chapel!

The Cooper’s Hawk location in Tampa is a popular spot for foodies and wine afficianados. (Photos: chwinery.com)

The popular Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant is coming to Wesley Chapel!

While no official announcement has been made, the Neighborhood News has learned that plans are in place for Cooper’s Hawk to be built at the northwest corner of S.R. 56 and Lajuana Blvd. (the road that leads to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County). The new restaurant will be constructed just east of the existing Culver’s restaurant. 

We’ve also learned that a second upscale restaurant also is planned for that area, but that will happen sometime after Cooper’s Hawk. With Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. nearing completion from S.R. 56 north to S.R. 54, look for the Wiregrass Ranch area to be busy in the coming months with a host of new developments.

Cooper’s Hawk offers a wide selection of wine and wine-related gifts.

Cooper’s Hawk, which is highly-rated by those leaving reviews online, is known for its modern décor, a menu specializing in contemporary American dishes infused with flavors from around the world and made in a scratch kitchen, and, of course, its huge variety of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines.

Cooper’s Hawk has its own wine club with 350,000 members strong, and a popular Napa-style wine tasting room that is the highlight of the trip to the restaurant for many. High-end decanters, wine accessories, deluxe chocolates and other gifts are for sale in its artisan market, too.

Cooper’s Hawk makes its own wines — roughly 60 different kinds — and the menu offers suggestions which are intended to pair with whatever seasonal dish you order, whether it be the prime churrasco grilled steak, bourbon lacquered BBQ pork chops or pistachio-crusted grouper.

Cooper’s Hawk is known for great food and great wine paired together by experts.

According to its website, since it was founded in 2005 in Illinois by CEO Tim McEnery as that state’s first winery/restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk has received over 500 wine awards from var­i­ous local, nation­al, and inter­na­tion­al wine competitions.

In 2021, it was named by USA Today as the top winery restaurant in the U.S. in a reader’s survey.

There currently are 45 Cooper’s Hawk locations in 10 states, including more than a dozen in Florida. The nearest, and only other Tampa-area Cooper’s Hawk, is located on Boy Scout Blvd. near the International Plaza in the Westshore Business District.

How Far Will $20 Million For Sidewalk Repairs Go?

With $20 million earmarked for sidewalk repairs, but $15 million of that designated for underserved neighborhoods, will the county’s recent vote impact New Tampa? (Photo: John C. Cotey)

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) committed a large chunk of money to repaving many of its roads last year. This year, the BOCC is tackling sidewalks.

The commissioners voted 6-1 on May 4 to spend $20 million from the county’s remaining pool of America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address dangerous sidewalks damaged over the years by tree roots, vehicles and age. District 7 Commissioner Kimberly Overman was the lone dissenter, stating a preference that the $20 million be spent on addressing the affordable housing crisis instead.

The county received $285.9 million from the federal Covid-19 relief package in 2021 and, after the sidewalk appropriations, will have about $44 million remaining.

Which sidewalks will be fixed, and whether any of those are in New Tampa, won’t be known for another month or so (90 days from the meeting), and commissioners will meet with county planners to determine the areas of need.

District 2 commissioner Ken Hagan, who represents the New Tampa area, told commissioners at the meeting that, “sidewalk repairs and road resurfacing are by far the top requests to my office.”

Damaged and uneven sidewalks are a major concern, commissioners said. Hagan shared the story of one constituent who says their children wait in the street for the school bus in the morning because the sidewalks are so bad. In other cases, children and adults biking, the elderly out for a walk and those in wheelchairs are unable to use the sidewalk for basic things like getting to school, a store or a bus stop.

Tom Fesler, the county’s chief financial administrator, told commissioners that the county has paid out $2.5 million in claims over the last 10 years related to sidewalk trip-and-falls.

“It is one of the most significant items we have as far as claims to come to the county go,” Fesler said.

The Neighborhood News reported a story in July 2019 about the dangerous sidewalks in many of the seven neighborhoods that comprise Cross Creek. Jo-Ann Pilawski, the community association manager, said she had reported the sidewalks for years, but repairs were just added to a massive backlog. Instead, swatches of bright orange paint and dozens of orange safety cones were placed throughout the neighborhoods as warnings to pedestrians.

Three years later, the paint has faded, the cones are gone, and the uneven sidewalks remain. 

Pilawski hopes the BOCC’s vote moves some of the repairs further up on the county’s to-do list.

“I keep calling,” she says.

Hagan said he has compiled a list from constituent phone calls to compare with what the county staff has come up with as to which sidewalks to address.

However, Hagan stressed that there is an 8-10 year backlog on sidewalk repairs and, at the BOCC meeting, commissioners agreed that $15 million of the $20 million voted for would be used to repair sidewalks in underserved areas.

Hillsborough County Public Works maintains more than 3,200 miles of sidewalks, with a budget of only about $550,000 a year to perform repairs. Last year, the county said it had nearly 2,500 open requests for sidewalk repairs, but the budget would only allow it to get to less than a third of those requests.

“The need is enormous,” Hagan said. “Hopefully, we are able to spread it around as much as possible and do as many sidewalks as possible.”