HGCC Tennis Talents To Play At States

Joy Allee hits a forehand during the combo tennis season. The 6.5 combo team Allee plays on, along with three men’s combo teams from Hunter’s Green Country Club, will help break in the brand new $70-million USTA National Campus in Lake Nona next week.

When the sparkling new U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) national campus in Lake Nona (part of Orlando) is unveiled this week, much of the Hunter’s Green Country Club (HGCC) tennis community will have the best view of the beautiful $70-million facility — right from the service lines of some of the campus’ 120 courts.

HGCC produced four league championship teams that will compete for a State championship the next two weekends.

The USTA, which was headquartered in Miami Shores for many years before moving to Daytona Beach in 2002, will host sectionals for the first time at the new state-of-the-art complex.

This weekend (Jan. 6-8), the club’s men’s and women’s 6.5 teams — which combines 3.0- and 3.5-rated players — as well as the men’s 8.5 team (combining 4.0- and 4.5-rated players), will compete in Lake Nona.

For the 6.5 men, it is their third straight trip to Sectionals.

The following weekend, HGCC’s 7.5 men (combining 3.5- and 4.0-rated players) will travel to Lake Nona seeking a championship banner.

“I think the last time we sent four teams to one championship was 2002,’’ said head tennis pro Allegra Campos. “It is a pretty incredible accomplishment.”

A number of HGCC men will be playing for at least two of the three mens’ teams competing the next two weekends: Erik Hajek and John Slatniske play for both the 6.5 and 7.5 teams, while Greg Morrissey, Rudy Paul, Chris Baker, Mike Bitting and Richard Helme all played for the 7.5 and 8.5 teams.

The three men’s teams combined for a 19-3 record during the regular season in the best-of-3 doubles format against other clubs in Tampa Bay, including West Meadows, Tampa Palms and Arbor Greene.

Helme (7-0), Hajek (5-0), Ron Reiter (5-0), Jim Dicesaro (4-0) and James Hann (3-0) were among those posting perfect records.

The 6.5 women, who advanced to the semifinals last year, return after going 6-0 during the regular season. The ladies only lost three lines all season, and six different players — Cherie Smith, Marisol Casablanca, Trina Hoyrod, Marisa Martin, Julie Sakre and Nini Torres — finished with team-best 3-0 record.

Casablanca, Hoyrod, Martin and Torres also played on the women’s over-50 combo team that went 3-1 at sectionals in early December, just a tiebreaker away from the championship match.

Austin Named Top All-Star Lineman But West Falls To East In OT

Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman Christian Austin rushes the quarterback in the second annual Pasco County East-West All-Star game, which was played on Dec. 8.

Wesley Chapel High (WCH) defensive lineman Christian Austin wreaked havoc on the West team’s offensive line to earn Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman, but it wasn’t enough to lift his fellow All-Stars to victory Dec. 8 in the second annual Pasco County East-West Classic, which was played at Sunlake High in Land O’Lakes.

The East team, with Austin and 13 other players from WCH and Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) on the roster, fell to the West 27-21 on a quarterback scramble in overtime.

WRH and WCH had seven players each named to the team, which is comprised of only seniors. The event was sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

“This is a great thing, what we’re doing here,” said WRH head coach Mark Kantor, who was the head coach of the East team. “We should keep it rolling. It’s fun to coach the kids (from other schools) and just to be part of this.”

Wesley Chapel-area players showed up early and heavily on defense for the East squad. WRH’s 6-foot, 180-pound linebacker Ryan Scamardo made a touchdown-saving tackle and had a quarterback pressure on the West’s opening drive, but the West still found the end zone on a third-and-goal for the game’s first score.

A fumble recovery then set up a short field for WCH quarterback Jacob Thomas and the East offense. Thomas completed a first down pass to the 13, and then Zephyrhills Christian’s Mykh’ael Chavis ran it in from there to tie the game.

Austin, who is undersized for an interior player at 5’-10’ and 190 lbs., but able to use his edge in quickness to make plays, was a menace from his defensive line position. He beat behemoth 6-8, 350-pound lineman Darrin Bright of Ridgewood for a tackle-for-loss on the West’s fourth drive, forcing a punt.

On the next West drive, they tried a halfback option play, and Scamardo was there to break it up for a loss of yardage and force a fourth down.

Scamardo’s WRH teammate and fellow LB Jason Winston, tripped up the West quarterback on the ensuing drive to force another fourth down. Another Bulls player, safety Dylan Bryan, made a huge play on the next drive, intercepting the ball and returning it to the West 36.

In the third quarter, the West took a 13-7 lead but local defenders kept making plays, as Winston and Bryan combined to force another West fourth down.

The offensive players from WCH and WRH began making their marks, as well. On first-and-goal from the 5, Thomas ran a bootleg to his left and beat the West defense to the corner for a touchdown to give his squad a 14-13 lead.

And then, Austin logged another sack on the West’s ensuing possession.

With time winding down, the East got in the end zone again to take a 21-13 lead with 1:12 left to play, but the West charged right back with a touchdown and two-point conversion with 18 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

But, even though the West team fell short, WCH coach Tony Egan, who served as an assistant for the East squad, said, “This was an awesome experience, mixing it up with other coaches, no one wanting to give up any secrets, keeping it very vanilla. It’s also another chance for some of these players to get something on film.”

Egan mentioned that Thomas had finally received his first of what Egan expects to be multiple scholarship offers, from Ave Maria University near Naples, FL.

GIRLS HOOPS: Freedom Looks To Rebound, Wharton Fighting Injuries & Youth

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Freedom High senior standout Megan Clark (center) signed her letter of intent with Tennessee Tech last month.

When you build a winning basketball program, new players can tend to think that the successes of the past will automatically continue. Freedom High girls basketball coach Laurie Pacholke says she sees it all the time.

But, very often, she says, it doesn’t.

And, that kind of lesson is never very easy for a coach to drill into his or her players’ heads.

After a six-year run that included 127 victories, four trips to the playoffs and a state semifinal appearance in 2013, the Patriots suffered through the first losing season since Pacholke became head coach in 2009.

Freedom’s 13-15 record included the Pats’ first loss to New Tampa rival Wharton High since 2010.

Pacholke’s team did still make the playoffs and nearly upset traditional state powerhouse Winter Haven High in the playoffs — losing by one point — but Pacholke says, “Looking at the record…yeah, that’s brutal.”

Freedom, which opened the 2016-17 season with a 33-30 loss to Alonso but has bounced back with consecutive wins over Gaither and Wiregrass Ranch, returns six seniors in its effort to bounce back this season, including Megan Clark, who averaged 14.7 points a game last year after missing the first month and a half with an injury.

Pacholke says that Clark — a 5-foot-9 senior forward who has signed to play college ball for Division I-A Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, TN — has a high basketball IQ, a sterling work ethic and a nose for the ball.

“She’ll lead us in offensive rebounds, that is for sure,’’ Pacholke says, adding that Clark’s pull-up, mid-range jumper and three-point shot are as good as anyone she has ever coached.

Olivia Williams will, “shock a lot of people,” Pacholke says. The 6-1 senior center is a top rebounder with a nice shot from 14 feet in, and has great hands. Taraja Leon, a 5-7 senior, will take over the starting point guard duties after scoring 7.2 points a game in a reserve role last year, and 5-10 senior forward Ashley Bell brings lockdown defense and a strong physical style to the Pats.

Another senior, 5-7 forward Gazal Refaee, will add some strength in the post, and 6-foot sophomore center Ragen Roger has made significant progress after playing in 14 games as a freshman.

“I like the pieces that we have,’’ Pacholke says. “It’s a new year, and I told them you can’t worry about anything that happened in the past.”

(Right) Wharton High’s Ashley “A.J.” Jones (left) & Parker Onderko will be counted on to help carry the team until they can find their footing.
(Right) Wharton High’s Ashley “A.J.” Jones (left) & Parker Onderko will be counted on to help carry the team until they can find their footing.

Wildcats Looking For A Spark

Wharton, which was 12-14 last year, will have to overcome offseason injuries to key players to reach double-digit wins again.

Seniors Dawn Norwood and Sabrina Eye, two post players at 5-10 and 6-1, respectively, both suffered torn ACLs. Coach Chad Reed says he hopes to get Eye back before the end of the season.

“Those are significant,” he says. “They will hurt.’’

They have hurt. The Wildcats got off to a slow start, losing their first five games to open the season. They are, however, coming off a 51-49 victory over Gaither on Nov. 30.

Two starters from last year — 5-8 senior point guard Ashley Jones and 5-4 senior guard Parker Onderko — will be asked to carry the load early. Reed says he the Wildcats will have to find success with a rotation of transfers and new and old players, such as 5-10 junior forward Regina Henry, 5-11 sophomore center Semera Wilson and 5-3 sophomore guard Mecca Bythewood, as well as from promising freshmen like 5-10 forward Julian Trice and 5-4 guard Angelica Ayala.

Reed said he has some good shooters, so the Wildcats will rely on quick ball movement to create open shots. He thinks because of all the new pieces, Wharton will take its lumps this year, but he believes the future is bright.

“We have to take it game to game,’’ Reed said. “It can’t be about wins and losses (right now). If we get better each game, the wins will come.”

Boys Hoops: Wharton Expected To Challenge Again; Freedom? Maybe

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(l-r) Tray Gildon, Dae’son Barnes and Isaiah Thomas are returning starters for Wharton, which is looking for another 20-win season.

Since taking over the Paul R. Wharton High boys basketball program in 1997, coach Tommy Tonelli has had nothing but success.

Only one time have his Wildcats not won at least 18 games. And, Tonelli has guided the Wildcats to eleven straight 20-win seasons, seven district titles and nine playoff appearances.

But last year, despite going 21-5, the Wildcats did not make the playoffs, losing in the District semifinals to arch-rival Freedom High in Tampa Palms.

The two teams renew their rivalry tonight in a Class 8A, District 8 clash at 6:30 p.m. at Wharton, with the Wildcats looking to get back to the postseason and Freedom looking at a rebuilding year.

“I feel this team definitely has a real good outlook and can achieve whatever they want,’’ says Tonelli, who is just another 20-win season shy of 400 career wins with the school. “They just have to earn it and pay the price and go out and compete for it. It is a talented group. We have the necessary pieces.”

Three of those pieces are returning senior starters: Tray Gildon, Dae’son Barnes and Isaiah Thomas. Another big piece should be transfer Reggie Jennings, a 6-3 senior guard who averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds a game last year for Wesley Chapel High.

Gildon started every game as a junior, and the 6-foot-1 point guard is poised to have a big season. Tonelli said Gildon shined during the offseason, showing leaps forward in maturity and leadership. Combine that with a smooth handle, great vision and a solid jumper, and Gildon could emerge as one of the Tampa Bay area’s top point guards.

“He has good natural point guard ability,’’ Tonelli says. “He has all the intangibles.”

Barnes, a 6-2 shooting guard, also played a lot as a junior. He has improved his jump shot and his defense and Tonelli thinks Barnes can raise his scoring average into double digits.

“He can put the ball in the basket a lot of different ways,’’ the coach says.

Thomas is a 6-3 forward who started last year as a reserve and played his way into the starting lineup midway through the season. He provided a lift for the ‘Cats on offense, and is a tremendous leaper who plays above the rim.

Wharton, which is 2-0, isn’t a very big or physical team this year, but they are athletic and fairly long, with players like 6-2 sophomore guard Darin Green,  6-5 junior point guard D.J. Henderson and junior varsity call-up Renaldo Williams all expected to play big roles this season.

“I’m real excited about our guys,’’ Tonelli says, “and what I think we can accomplish.”

Freedom Hoping To Reload

Freedom coach Cedric Smith is taking a more muted tone with the Patriots as he waits to see how his team gels.

The Pats lost seven seniors from last year’s team, including about 41 of the 57 points per game the team averaged in winning a school-record 23 games.

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Freedom head coach Cedric Smith

Freedom, which is 1-1 after beating Gaither to open the season and then dropping a close 60-56 decision to Wiregrass Ranch in a pair of Class 8A, District 8 games, will rely on Chase Creasy, a 6-4 senior wing player that Smith thinks can be better than he has been. Last year, Creasy averaged just 6 points per game in limited minutes but was third on the team in three-pointers made.

The Patriots also return 6-8 junior Alek Rojas and 6-7 senior Nicola Maganuco, two centers. Neither player made a big impact last year, averaging a combined 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds, but Smith is counting on them to put up bigger numbers in 2016-17.

Gerald Fleming, an athletic 6-4 senior forward, and 5-8 sophomore point guard Nicholas Butler round out the starters for Freedom.

“We have some work to do,’’ said Smith, the former USF star who took over the program in 2011 and finished 8-14 his first season, but has improved the team’s win total every year since then.

Wharton Boys Turn In Best Finish Ever At State Cross Country Meet

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The Wharton High boys cross country team hoists Tre Rivers into the air after his first-place finish at the District championship meet. (Photo courtesy Kyle LoJacono)

The best finish in Wharton boys cross country history went anything but smoothly.

There were critical injuries, tough courses and some flat performances to overcome. But in the end, the Wildcats managed to do something no other boys cross country team at the school had — crack the Top 10 at the State Championship race with a ninth-place finish on Nov. 5.

“It was really a testament to the kind of kids we had on the team this year,’’ said third-year head coach Kyle LoJacono.

Behind sophomore Tre Rivers’ ninth-place finish in a personal best of 16 minutes and 16 seconds, the Wildcats finished with 286 points at the Class 4A State race at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Juniors Noah Damjanovic (71st), Sahil Deshenes (89) and Frankie Godbold (99) all cracked the top 100, while freshman Casey Pleune was 113th.

The Wharton finish was the second-best of all the Hillsborough County public school teams competing at the event, behind only Newsome, which was third with 185 points.

It was a deserved ending to a season that resembled a run through tough, wandering terrain.

It began with high hopes. Wharton lost seven seniors, but returned a strong group of underclassmen, led by Rivers. Pleune joined the team in the fall, and set a number a freshman school records.

“We 100-percent expected to do what we did,’’ LoJacono said. “We knew the group coming back not only had the talent, but the right kind of mindset to do it.”

In the summer, though, the Wildcats lost senior Veyd Tandel to a broken leg, a disheartening injury considering Tandel was something of an inspirational leader after running with the team for three years before finally making varsity for the first time.

Meanwhile, Damjanovic broke his foot in the summer, and saw his times early in the season hang around 18 minutes, a tough start for a runner who was used to finish in the mid-17-minute range.

And at the Region 4A-2 race, Dennarius Murphy injured his calf and couldn’t run at States, so Zach Kane had to step up.

But, perhaps the biggest obstacle for the Wildcats to overcome was a race at the University of Florida Mountain Dew meet at the UF Golf Course in Gainesville in which they finished 15th overall (after being seeded to finish 10th), only placing three runners in the top 150.

“They were really demoralized after that race,’’ LoJacono said.

Two weeks later, however, the Wildcats took on another big hurdle, traveling to Tallahassee for the pre-State FSU Invitational race, which was disrupted by Hurricane Matthew, causing some teams to drop out. That opened the door for Wharton to be moved into the elite race — where the Wildcats finished eighth and placed all five scorers in the top-100 runners.

The Wildcats also closed the gap with District 4A-6 rival Steinbrenner, their average time just 15 seconds behind the Warriors, who finished fifth at the FSU race.

“That is where things turned around,’’ LoJacono said.

So began a series of races where the Wildcats chased down, and eventually passed, their rivals. At the Hillsborough County Championships, Wharton finished third, just eight points behind champion Steinbrenner.

At the District race the following week, Rivers broke through to win the individual title in 16:41, and the Wildcats were just two points behind first-place Steinbrenner.

Finally, at the Region 4A-2 race, the Wildcats caught the Warriors. Behind another strong finish by Rivers, Pleune and Deshenes, Wharton finished fourth overall, a whopping 43 points ahead of Steinbrenner.

“That was the first time we were ever able to beat Steinbrenner,’’ LoJacono said, and the following week they did it again at state, as the Warriors finished one spot and 13 points behind Wharton.

Now that the Wildcats have caught the rabbit, the target could be on their backs next season. They return everyone, and plan on using a strong track and AAU season to bolster their chances at finishing even better at States in 2017.

“I told them, now you have to set your bar and your motivation higher,’’ says LoJacono. “They may be chasing us next year.” 

Samhouri Finishes Strong

Wharton senior Rania Samhouri, who was featured in our last Neighborhood News issue, was the only girl ‘Cat to advance to States, where she finished ninth overall.

Samhouri, who improved on her 30th-place finish last season, ran the race in 18:49.