Indoor Sports Facility In Wesley Chapel Sprints Towards Finish Line

This indoor sports facility in Gatlinburg, TN, is seen as the model for the planned indoor sports complex that hopefully will begin building soon in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI in Wesley Chapel.
This indoor sports facility in Gatlinburg, TN, is seen as the model for the planned indoor sports complex that hopefully will begin building soon in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI in Wesley Chapel.

With the $20-million Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) complex nearing completion and Raymond James Financial now cleared for construction in the Wiregrass Ranch area, the S.R. 56 corridor is starting to deliver on much of its promise.

The next big project approaching the developmental runway is the long-awaited county athletic complex, which will be located just east of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel on 126.5 acres of land dedicated by the Porter family.

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) recently extended its deadline from July 6 to Aug. 5 for private companies to submit proposals to develop the new multi-purpose indoor facility, and public meetings to evaluate the proposals could take place in as soon as the next two weeks.

Moore said four bids were submitted.

“It’s getting closer,’’ said Pasco’s District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, who represents the Wesley Chapel area.

After the evaluation committee and public take a look at the bids, the responding firms are tentatively scheduled to go through interviews and give presentations in September, with a potential vote for approval by the BCC sometime in October.

The county is hoping to finally dip more than just a toe into the booming sports tourism market which, according to an April report by the National Association of Sports Commissions, is a $9.45- billion-per-year industry.

Pasco is looking for a private partner who would develop, finance, manage, operate and maintain the facility. The county has previously agreed to contribute $8.5 million to the design and construction of the project in money raised through its tourism development tax, and there would be a revenue-sharing aspect to the private-public relationship.

The private company chosen will be expected to market, solicit, advertise and conduct public relations activities for leagues, sporting events, concerts, tournaments and other gatherings to maximize use of the complex at no cost to the county, which will help with marketing.

Previous attempts dating back to 2001 to build facilities — one for tennis, one for baseball and another outdoor multi-purpose facility — have failed, but Johnson Consulting of Chicago said in a feasibility report last year that the outdoor market was saturated and the county should instead focus on an indoor facility, which was met with support by the BCC.

According to recommendations made by Johnson Consulting in Oct. of 2015, which the county says it would like to move forward with, the project will involve three phases.

The indoor facility will be a multi-purpose complex between 85,000 and 100,000 square feet on 5-7 acres of land. The facility, or Phase 1 of development of the property, would have 6-8 basketball courts, which could be converted to 12-16 volleyball courts, elevated seating for 500-750, concession stands, 4-6 multipurpose rooms and a sports orthopaedic and healthcare partnership.

“When you think about all the indoor sports travel teams, all those indoor sports (like cheerleading, gymnastics, wrestling, basketball and volleyball), there’s really nowhere in this area really focusing on  those,’’ Moore said. “The indoor facility would be much better for our area. It will be a big draw for tournaments year-round, and that means more people staying in hotels and shopping and eating in the area.”

Phase 2 of the project (5-15 acres), according to the Johnson Consulting report, would include 3-4 outdoor rectangular multi-purpose grass fields (two with lights), a Championship area for bigger events, an interactive playground and splash pads.

Phase 3 (10-15 acres) would incorporate an alternative entertainment zone, with indoor skydiving, zip lines, ropes courses and a driving range.

The remaining 25-35 usable acres would be for hotel development, themed retail, a community center, active and passive green space for the community, plus trails for walking, running and biking.

Johnson Consulting conservatively estimates that more than 100,000 participants will use the facility annually. While deficits are projected the first four years, the indoor sports complex is projected to bring in more than $200,000 a year in net profit by year six.

While initially Johnson Consulting expressed concerns over a lack of local lodging, three new hotels (see story on page 13) totaling more than 250 rooms are slated to open in the next year or two.

Moore said the facility that may compare best to what is hoped for in Wesley Chapel is the Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, TN, an 86,000-sq.-ft. indoor facility with 18 basketball and volleyball courts and seven outdoor synthetic turf fields, including a Championship Stadium Field. “If we do it right, we should be able to draw tournaments from across the nation,’’ Moore said.

Freedom High Athletic Trainer Ian Graulich Named State’s Best

IanTrainer2WEBIf you’re a high school athlete, you want a team trainer who can work out that cramp, tape up that ankle and adjust that shoulder — anything to get you back in the game as soon as possible.

But, being a high school athletic trainer goes well beyond the obvious. There are concussions and heat-related issues that can lead to dire consequences for prep athletes, as well as the risk of major infections like MERSA and even cardiac symptoms that often have to be monitored.

The job, at times, can be harrowing.

At Freedom High in Tampa Palms, however, that job is done very well. In fact, it’s done as well, if not better than, at any other high school in the state, according to the Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida.

On July 17, the ATAF recognized Freedom head certified athletic trainer (ATC) and Tampa Palms resident Ian Graulich as the state’s High School Athletic Trainer of the Year.

“I was very surprised,’’ says Graulich. “I was humbled by that. It was pretty cool.”

Graulich is truly deserving after the busy 2015-16 school year he had. The Washington, D.C., native said in the past year, he had five football players with torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in their knees, four players with concussions and two others who suffered a spine injury and a broken leg. And, that’s just the football team.

“Unfortunately, that probably helped (me win the award),’’ Graulich joked.

One of Graulich’s key attributes which likely contributed to his winning the award is that he also has helped prepare other athletic trainers, many of whom have gone on to become successful themselves. Graulich has had a positive influence on many of those students, who are now “paying it forward,” he says.

“Anyone who has worked with Ian will tell you this is a well-deserved honor,’’ says Laurie, Ian’s wife of 17 years. “He is highly regarded in the New Tampa athletics community. On many occasions, we’ve been out in the neighborhood, and parents will approach us to say how much Ian helped their son or daughter after an injury.”

Ian and Laurie met at the University of Florida in Gainesville, when their college roommates started dating each other. The roommates broke up after only six months; Ian and Laurie have been together the 23 years since.

The love bug isn’t the only thing Graulich caught in Gainesville — he also caught the athletic training bug.

“I was just very interested in a profession that combined athletics, which I love, with healthcare,’’ he says. “And I find working with young athletes more enjoyable than working with older patients.”

IanTrainerWEBGraulich earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Exercise & Sports Science from Florida in 1996. In 1998, he earned a Master of Science degree in athletic training from California University of Pennsylvania.

The Graulichs have lived in Tampa Palms since 2007, with 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn, who attends Liberty Middle School, and 5-year-old Kristen, a Tampa Palms Elementary student.

He has been Freedom’s head athletic trainer since 2011. He also has worked for 10 years for the SMART (Sports Medicine & Athletic Related Trauma) Institute on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, where he is one of 15 certified athletic trainers providing daily, on-site care and coverage to thousands of student athletes at 13 high schools in Hillsborough County.

A typical day for Graulich might involve a few hours in the morning at the USF SMART Institute. Once at Freedom,  Graulich will typically keep a close eye on football practice, because it has the most players (thus more chances for injuries), but he is responsible for every sport at the school. Many nights, he will work whatever Patriots games are being played.

Practices, he says, are where most of the injuries and, especially, heat-related illnesses here in Florida occur. He cited the recent death of Oklahoma State University basketball player Tyrek Coger, who died after a 40-minute workout on the football stadium stairs in hot weather.

“We face those fears on a daily basis,’’ Graulich said. “You always have that worry. Our most important job is to be there for emergency purposes and worst-case scenarios. We want to keep our athletes from being in the newspaper (for the wrong reasons).”

Graulich was the first full-time certified athletic trainer for Northwood University in West Palm Beach in 1998. And, while he enjoyed his work at the college, Graulich said he has found his niche at both the SMART Institute, which affords him an opportunity to teach and take part in research, and as a high school trainer at Freedom.

It doesn’t get any better, Graulich says, and the athletes he is keeping an eye on at Freedom can probably say the same thing about him.

For more info about the USF SMART Institute, visit health.usf.edu/medicine/orthopaedic/smart/index.htm.

New Tampa Eagle Scout Project Gives U.S. Flags Proper Retirement

BoyScoutsAll-American holidays honoring veterans, celebrating our independence and remembering those fallen in defense of it are times when citizens, old and new, proudly display the Stars and Stripes. But, what is to be done with Old Glory when it becomes worn and tattered and needs to be replaced and properly retired?

Grant Collie, a 17-year-old New Tampa Boy Scout, has an answer.

With construction help from family and fellow Scouts, using materials donated by the  Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Tampa Palms, Collie built two drop boxes for people to deposit worn flags as his Eagle Scout service project.

Flags that are turned in at Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 on Green Pine Ln., off of Cross Creek Blvd. (about one-half-mile east of Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.), will be respectfully retired in ceremonies conducted by Boy Scout Troop 148, which is chartered by St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa, where the troop also meets.

Collie undertook the project as part of his quest to become an Eagle Scout. One of the requirements to obtain that status is to complete a service project that benefits the community and demonstrates leadership.

Collie says he became aware of the need when he attended a flag retiring ceremony a few years ago.

“My Boy Scout troop had a flag retirement ceremony at the Lazydays RV Resort campground in Seffner a few years ago, and since then, people have been asking at the office there if they can turn in flags,” the Wharton High grad says.

BoyScout2WEBAccording to the United States Flag Code, organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the military and some veterans organizations are authorized to conduct flag retirement ceremonies.

Collie hopes the boxes, which will be placed at Lazydays RV Resort in Seffner and Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 in New Tampa, will make it easier for people to turn in their flags. “My troop will periodically empty the boxes, collect the flags and perform a flag ceremony,” he says.

Collie has been involved in Scouting since he was a first-grader at Richard F. Pride Elementary.

He credits the Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders, specifically Bryan Noll and current Troop 148 Scoutmaster David Thompson, for helping him “Be Prepared” for his future endeavors, starting with attending the University of Florida in Gainesville this fall to study electrical engineering.

“Scouting has been a huge part of my life,” Collie says. “It’s taught me about responsibility and independence. ‘Be Prepared’ is the motto, and I live my life by that.”

According to Thompson, the leadership Collie is demonstrating with his flag box project is consistent with what he has shown in his Troop 148 activities.

“He has been a great mentor, teaching younger Scouts about the flag,” says Thompson, who suggests people fold their flags and put them in plastic bags when they deposit them in the box.

Collie’s parents are proud as their son advances toward becoming an Eagle Scout and appreciate the role Scouting has in their son’s life.

His father, Phillip Collie, says the flag box project revealed an emerging side of his son’s character to him as he observed the work in progress. “He was very much in charge and showed a lot of leadership skills,” Phillip says.

Laura Collie is similarly pleased with the influence Scouting and the service project have had on her son.

“I’ve seen him grow in maturity and respect toward others,” she says.

Fire Captain John Donnelly is in charge of Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) Station No. 21 and sought approval to place the box at the station.

In the letter to TFR Chief Thomas Forward, Donnelly wrote, “I think this would be a great way to assist Grant in achieving his goal, while allowing the citizens of Tampa a dignified way to retire their American flags.”

Forward granted permission and a box was placed at Station 21 on Aug. 2.

When Collie delivered the box (far right), Donnelly commented on the project’s alignment with TFR’s purpose.

“Our goal is to aid the community and this goes along with that,” he said.

People wanting to drop flags off at Fire Station No. 21 should enter through the main office door and they will be directed to the box, says Donnelly.

Collie expressed optimism the boxes at the fire station and at Lazydays RV Resort will get a lot of use. 

“I know there’s lots of people around here who have (old or tattered) flags, so I’m hoping they’ll bring them here so we can have ceremonies and retire them,” Collie says.

Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 is located at 18902 Green Pine Ln., off Cross Creek Blvd. Lazydays RV Resort is located at 6210 C.R. 579 in Seffner.

Did You Blink & Miss The Summer? Local Schools Are Back In Session!

benito
Incoming sixth-grade students listen to Benito Middle School principal John Sanders offer some words of advice in the school’s cafeteria last month during an introductory camp.

That wailing sound you may have heard echoing across New Tampa on Wednesday morning was likely the sound of local elementary, middle and high school students bemoaning the start of the 2016-17 school year in Hillsborough County.

Already?

Yep, already.

Thanks to state lawmakers responding to the Hillsborough County School District’s request for changes to the school schedule a few years ago, kids went back to school Wednesday, the earliest first day of school in years. And, students in New Tampa were not alone, as 40 of the 67 school districts in Florida returned to school Wednesday as well.

Nearby Pasco County returns to school Monday, August 15.

While summer vacation is one of this country’s great and most treasured traditions — just ask anyone toting a backpack to the bus stop today  — chances are if you blinked this year, you missed it.

But, don’t blame the schools; blame Labor Day. Because so many school districts try to start the school year around the holiday — which is Mon., Sept. 5 this year, — it can interfere with classroom time, with schools having to end the second grading period after winter break.

With Labor Day taken out of the equation and finishing the first two grading periods at a more convenient break in the schedule, it led to starting school earlier.

Now, there is an even break after the first two quarters, in December — as opposed to finishing the second quarter sometime in January — and schools can start fresh with the third quarter when school returns in January (on Tue., Jan. 3, 2017, in Hillsborough).

“Change is always complicated, but the reality is, it’s  nice to have those first two quarters finished when we break at winter break,’’ said Lawton Chiles Elementary principal Teresa Evans. “I can see in secondary school how that is important.”

While the early start may be a shock to the system — in Evans’ case, she said many of her international students who travel back to their countries over the summer had a harder time planning their vacation — it’s not all bad.

In fact, Evans says, she didn’t hear any complaints from students as last year wound down, and she hasn’t heard any moaning about it from the students she talked to this summer.

“By this time, they’re excited,’’ she says, admitting things might be a little different with the younger students at an elementary school, as opposed to say, budding teenagers heading back to middle school. “Everyone I’ve talked to is excited about coming back to school.”

For the 2016-17 school year, the summer will begin right after Memorial Day. And, at the end of the day, students are going to school the same number of days they always have — usually, right around 180 days.

Which solves another problem — in years past, many teachers admit, the 10-12 remaining days after kids come back from Memorial Day are not always purposeful and it’s difficult to keep students focused.

But, even if the students weren’t ready to return, the schools certainly were ready for them. Rooms were being dusted and cleaned last week, floors were mopped and teachers spent the final days of summer in planning meetings, while their students tried to soak in every last second of it before hitting the books again this week.

“We planned for it,’’ Evans said. “I think that’s the real key. It’s not like it hit us in the middle of the summer. The custodial schedule was the hardest thing to do, to get everything clean before school. That was a real priority for us.”

2016-2017 school schedule

Mon., Sept. 5: No school, Labor Day

Fri., Oct. 7: First grading period ends.

Mon., Oct. 10: No school, nonstudent day.

Fri., Nov. 11: No school, Veterans Day.

Mon.-Fri., Nov. 21-25: No school, Thanksgiving/Fall break.

Mon., Nov. 28: Students return from fall break.

Wed., Dec. 16: Second grading period ends.

Mon.-Fri., Dec. 19-30: No school, Winter break.

Tue., Jan. 3, 2017: Students return from Winter break.

Mon., Jan. 16: No school, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Mon., Feb. 20: No school, Presidents Day.

Fri., March 10: Third grading period ends.

Mon.-Fri., Mar. 13-17: No school, Spring break.

Mon., March 20: Students return from Spring break.

Fri., April 14: No school, nonstudent day.

Wed., May 26: Last day of school. Fourth grading period ends.

Students are released one hour early every Monday and, on the last day of school, are released 2œ hours early.