Wesley Chapel Spring Football Recap

Bulls Fall Short In Spring  Game 
It was a tale of two halves for the Wiregrass Ranch High football team in their 36-28 spring game loss to Berkeley Prep on May 20.

In the first half, Iowa State University commitment Rocco Becht completed four touchdowns to three different receivers as the Bulls jumped all over the Bucs.

Rocco Becht threw four touchdown passes in the spring game loss to Berkeley Prep. (Photo: Charmaine George)

In the second half, the Bulls were outscored 20-0. Head coach Mark Kantor, however, didn’t care as much about the score as he did about having a spring game, which no one played last year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“For me, it was about getting back to being competitive, and we accomplished that this spring,” Kantor said. “I don’t care if we win or lose a spring game. I saw some good things from the guys and they definitely competed; now we need to work on closing the deal.”

As is usually the case, Kantor spent the spring looking for depth on the offensive and defensive lines. Offensively, he has rising senior tackles Logan Ridolph (6-4, 275) and Christian Loaiza (6-5, 315) protecting Becht, and hopes to strengthen the other spots on the line. Defensively, he is searching for another interior lineman to pair up with rising junior Thomas Pehek (6-2, 210), especially after Berkeley Prep had success running the ball in the spring game.

Kantor is excited about the scoring potential of his 2021 Bulls. Becht threw for more than 200 yards and, of his four TDs, two were to rising senior transfer Malachi McLaughlin and one each went to rising junior running back Kenny Walker and rising senior Abram Breer.

Kantor says rising sophomore Izaiah Williams and rising junior Elijah Westbrooks, both WR/DBs, had outstanding springs.

“We’re excited about the fall,” Kantor said. “It’s going to be fun getting back in front of 1,200-1,300 fans at the Ranch cheering us on again.”

Back To Basics For Coyotes

After a 3-7 season in which games were cancelled and/or rescheduled and consistency was unattainable due to Covid-19, Cypress Creek High coach Mike Johnson eagerly welcomed the 2021 spring campaign.

“We just wanted to get back to basics,” Johnson said. “Last season was like a mish-mash of pickup games. You’d lose a game, pick up a game, it was just hard to get anything established.”

This spring, the Coyotes were able to put in 90 percent of their offensive and defensive schemes, and hope to refine them by the start of the 2021 season.

Rising junior linebacker Logan Falk closes in on a Land O’Lakes ball carrier in the spring game. (Photo: Charmine George)

In their spring game on May 19, they tied Land O’ Lakes 21-21 on a last-second field goal by rising senior placekicker Colton Corrao.

Operating in a different offense this year, promising rising senior quarterback Owen Walls completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. However, he also threw three interceptions.

Walls did engineer two scoring drives in the final six minutes to earn the tie. He found rising senior Merrick Simmons for a TD with just over a minute remaining and, after a defensive stand by the Coyotes, the offense was able to get in position for Corrao’s FG.

Johnson said the spring allowed him to find some depth on the offensive line, where he has 9-10 players to choose from. 

He says rising junior Niko Huitz, who transferred in from New Mexico, was a spring revelation. He had an exceptional spring game and “was all over the field,” Johnson says, and rising sophomore Jaelen Collins impressed enough that Johnson expects big things from him this season.

“We have the guys, now we just have to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” Johnson says.

Wildcats Split Halves In Spring Clashes
The All-Conference football teams in Pasco County aren’t announced until after each season, but Wesley Chapel High football coach Tony Egan feels confident that he can fill in the linebacker positions on those teams right now.

That’s how impressed he was this spring with the play of rising junior Jorden McCaslin (photo) and rising seniors Ayden Roysdon and Josh Poleon. Egan feels that all three linebackers have not just All-Conference high school talent, but Division I-A or I-AA college talent as well.

“I have to say the linebackers impressed me every day,” Egan says. “Every day, one of them did something that jumped out at you. It’s a really good group.”

The trio will anchor a defense that Egan says should be pretty good in the fall. The Wildcats surrendered 14 points in a one-half 14-7 loss to Dixie Hollins on broken plays in the spring jamboree, and then just one TD in a 28-8 win over Fivay in the other half.

While the Wildcats return their quarterback, top rusher and a bevy of talented receivers, Egan is concerned about the offensive line. He returns four starters, but they are young. “The offensive line will make us or break us,” Egan said.

Athletically, Egan thinks this is the best team he’s had since taking over in 2016. Even the offensive line is the biggest he’s had. He believes the 2021 team has the potential to be his best yet.

“The toughness and accountability is lacking,” says Egan, as the Wildcats head into an important summer of training. “But, if we get those things right, we’re going to be really good.” 

Millennium Physician Group Leverages Technology As It Expands Into Our Area

(L.-r) Kristie Gonzalez, NRCMA, Dr. Nektarios Demetriou & Amanda Grantham, CAN, of Millennium Physician Group’s Wesley Chapel office are launching a first-of-its-kind Virtual Clinic, using Millennium’s proprietary telehealth platform MPG Connect. (Photo provided by Millennium) 

One of the leading independent physician groups in Florida is expanding into the Tampa area. Founded in Charlotte County and now headquartered in Fort Myers, Millennium Physician Group boasts more than 550 healthcare providers at 150 locations in 19 Florida counties serving nearly half a million patients. 

It’s no secret that Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties are consistently ranked among the fastest-growing counties in the country. Although the Tampa area is rife with hospital-affiliated medical groups, Millennium is seizing the opportunity to fill a void by providing independent physicians the opportunity to be part of a physician-focused group, one that gives them the support of being in a partnership yet honors their connection with their patients.

“We like to focus on working with independent practices and those doctors who are tired of hospital employment,” explains Millennium Healthcare President Geurt Peet. “We provide them with the support, resources and tools to survive and thrive in this ever-changing world we call health care.”

The secret to Millennium’s success is its highly engaged physicians. Wesley Chapel-based Family Medicine physician Nektarios Demetriou, D.O., serves as the Medical Director for the Tampa region and says the Tampa-area growth means Millennium is well-positioned to serve the community.   

The Millennium Physician Group head office (above) is located in Ft. Myers. The Millennium office in Wesley Chapel is located on Windguard Cir. (Photo provided by Millennium Physician Group)

“Being a part of this time of growth and expansion is exciting and humbling,” says Dr. Demetriou. “It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Dr. Demetriou says the Wesley Chapel area is the fourth fastest-growing area in the U.S., and to keep up with that growth, Millennium has several new physicians in the pipeline scheduled to join Millennium in Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Brandon. 

“We are seeing a massive influx of people moving here from the Midwest and East Coast,” Dr. Demetriou explains. “And they all need good doctors to take care of them and meet their medical needs.”

The emotional commitment Millennium’s physicians and advanced-care providers apply to their work contributes to their national recognition, including garnering the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for consistently high levels of physician engagement by healthcare research firm Press Ganey. Millennium’s patients sense their physicians’ engagement through a strong patient-physician relationship, which comes to life thousands of times a day across the organization. Millennium excels in value-based healthcare, which aims to deliver high-quality care at a lower cost with better patient outcomes by practicing preventive, coordinated primary care. 

Introducing: The Virtual Clinic!

As a testament to that commitment, Millennium is launching a first-of-its-kind Virtual Clinic, initially staffed by Tampa-area physicians who will use Millennium’s proprietary telehealth platform — MPG Connect — to virtually see patients from across Florida. Millennium’s Virtual Walk-In Clinic providers will conduct virtual visits to treat a variety of acute-care issues, from sniffles and strains to earaches and stomach aches. 

Millennium’s Chief Innovation Officer Jeffrey Nelson says the Virtual Clinic is a logical next step. “It’s going to allow Millennium to further expand our services and hours for our patients to be able to see a provider when and where they need us most.”

 Dr. Demetriou says the goal of the Virtual Clinic is to prevent patients from having to go to the emergency room just because it’s after hours. “It gives our patients and the public the ability to be seen by a clinician outside of office hours and get peace of mind.” 

He adds that it’s just this type of innovative approach to medical care that sets Millennium apart. “Millennium is not just a medical company but a technology company as well,” Dr. Demetriou says. “This type of no-barriers approach to treating patients is definitely a trend we’ll be seeing more of, and Millennium is on the cutting edge of developing technologies to allow us to do this.”

Dr. Demetriou says Covid-19 and the pandemic have led to much of the recent population growth and, in turn, triggered leaps in innovation. At the height of the pandemic, when health officials called on the medical community to employ telehealth as a tool to help slow the spread of Covid-19, Millennium’s physician and innovation teams responded. Through their swift deployment of MPG Connect, Millennium physicians were able to preserve their connection with their patients just when they needed it most, turning a challenge into an opportunity. 

Today, telehealth is a sustainable care delivery system Millennium health care providers leverage hundreds of times a day across the organization.

Nelson says leveraging the technology allows Millennium to support its mission of being “Your Connection to a Healthier Life.”

“Rapid expansion of service delivery through technology, that’s really what we’re about,” he says. “Especially in our innovation area, really focusing on how we continue to push the envelope. We have created a culture of change and innovation. And, throughout the years, we’ve always been on the forefront of technology. We’ve always been three to five years ahead of the industry in general.”

Dr. Demetriou adds that the use of telehealth technology in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape allows Millennium patients to have access to a clinician from anywhere, and that’s a powerful thing. 

“Millennium’s focus is preventive health,” he says,. “and the best way to achieve that is through communication, access and follow-up.”

Peet explains that technology isn’t a way for physicians to be more hands-off, but actually quite the opposite. 

“We provide the technology to support our physicians, which then, in turn, allows them to spend more time face-to-face with their patients, which is why they got into medicine in the first place,” Peet says. “Patients get easier access to health care and meaningful time with their health care providers.”

Millennium Physician Group’s expansion into the Tampa-area market means more health care providers connecting with more patients, supporting their mission to connect the best doctors, service and quality. 

Every patient, every time.

Millennium Physician Group’s Virtual Clinic is available Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, call (877) 748-1114 or (239) 320-8138. Dr. Nektarios Demetriou’s Millennium Physician Group office is located at 2649 Windguard Cir., Ste. 101, Wesley Chapel. For info, call (813) 723-1303 or visit MillenniumPhysician.com.

Pick of the Week: Ice SSSScreamin’

If you’re looking for truly delicious, gourmet ice cream and treats, you have to check out the new Ice SSSScreamin’ shop, located at 14933 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., next to Mr. Dunderbak’s in the Oak Ramble Plaza, just south of Tampa Palms.

My new friend Zee says this is his second store with the many “S” name, with the other having been located in Cape Coral for 15 years. Both stores serve decadently creamy Yoder’s Southern Creamery ice cream (based in Sarasota) in an amazing array of flavors, several of which I got to sample on my first visit, including brownie caramel, chocolate peanut butter and triple peanut butter and all are absolutely unforgettable!

Zee says, “People love us for our monthly specials,” plus croissant sundaes, pancake, waffle and even donut ice cream sandwiches, hand-spun milk shakes (“We can make them with any of our flavors”) and more!

There’s even no sugar added and vegan flavors available. For more information or to place an order, call (813) 605-5040 or visit icesssscreamin.com and please tell Zee I sent you! — GN    

Goofy Turtle Offers A Huge Variety Of Fun, Educational Toys!

Before you visit the new Goofy Turtle toy store inside the Tampa Premium Outlets (located next to Saks Off 5th), you should get rid of all of the preconceived notions you have about toy stores.

Goofy Turtle has prices similar to what you’ll find at Walmart or Target, and has a selection that rivals the old Toys “R” Us stores, but in a much smaller space and with a completely different focus.

At Goofy Turtle — which is owned by long-time friends Swathi Atchuta, Soujanya Nomula and Lakshmi Kanthi Korlepara and their spouses — although there are some more traditional toys, the emphasis is on fun toys for kids that also are educational. Really.

(Clockwise from top left):  Co-owner Swathi Atchuta shows off a Poke-A-Dot book by Melissa & Doug toys. Your kids can try out some of their new toys (or just hang out) in Goofy Turtle’s Princess Castle play area. The Toddler Tree greets you as you enter the store. Crafty kids will love Aquabeads, which are an improvement over Perler Beads because you only have to add water, instead of ironing them, to create a variety of cool toys. (Photos by Charmaine George)

The three families that own Goofy Turtle all have children ages 7-11 and all have lamented over the lack of anything educational to be found in most toy stores. They also didn’t like the idea of finding items they thought they would like on Amazon and other online services that they ended up having to return because they either weren’t of the quality or the size they expected.

“One thing we can honestly say is that people who buy toys here don’t bring them back because they’re not satisfied,” Swathi says. “Our staff is trained to know about every toy in the store and people appreciate being able to see and touch what they buy before they buy it!”

So, since Goofy Turtle is a new franchise that currently only has three stores — the flagship store in Manchester, CT, plus Grapevine, TX, and the Lutz/Wesley Chapel location at the outlet mall — the partners liked the flexibility and the corporate entity’s focus on educational toys.

Unfortunately, the local partners originally leased their space in late 2019, or just before the pandemic hit, and weren’t able to open until shortly before Christmas of 2020.

“No one knew we were here,” says Swathi, “so we’re trying to get the word out now about everything we have to offer.”

A Truly Amazing Selection!  

Although mine and Jannah’s kids are now adults, we are both grandparents to amazing toddlers and Goofy Turtle starts with the kind of fun, educational toys that stimulate young minds like Jax’s and Rosie’s. From musical Ditty Bird and Poke-A-Dot books by Melissa & Doug, dolls, musical toys, play mats, trucks and so much more by Melissa & Doug, Haba and Green Toys (whose toys are all made from recycled materials), to “crafty” toys for slightly older kids, like Aquabeads, Craft-Tastic, Land of Dough (which is a truly reusable Play-Doh improvement taken to the next level) and so many others, young minds never had so much fun learning — at least my kids never did!

  • (Clockwise from top left):  You can’t beat the variety of crafting toys at Goofy Turtle. Swathi shows off a Wild Republic plush sea turtle. Whether you want your kids to select from a huge variety of STEAM or Coding toys, you can’t beat the selection at Goofy Turtle, which also has Steve Spangler Science brand Oobleck! slime/quicksand. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

Yes, there is a smattering of Disney and Star Wars learning toys mixed in, but even the plush toys at Goofy Turtle are educational, especially the large variety of Wild Republic animals and dinosaurs.

Swathi also says that kids love hanging out in Goofy Turtle’s unique Princess Castle (see photo at the bottom of the previous page) so much that many parents have asked them where they got it so they can re-create it in their own homes.

If you have older kids and/or teenagers in your home who also would appreciate playing with something other than (or, at least, in addition to) video games, Goofy Turtle also has you covered with such high-tech wizardry that a lot of it went over my head…completely!

“Not only do we have an entire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) toy section, we also have quite a few STEAM toys that include that Art element, too,” Swathi says, as she shows me one of several Power Blox by E-Blox sets that can even use your kids’ existing building bricks to create their own toys that light up and move. Think Legos on steroids.

There also is a large section of wall devoted to coding toys. 

(Clockwise from top left): For kids who seemingly love to break things, try iPlay iLearn’s Take Apart toys. Kids can learn how to fly their drones in Goofy Turtle’s Drone Cone. Odyssey’s UpShot bow & arrow gaming system is one of many available smart toys. We couldn’t fit all of the hot, trending items for sale in Goofy Turtle, so pictured above are just a few of them.

Science toys include everything from the Thinkfun brand Code Master and Code On The Brink programming logic games (for ages 8-definitely-not-this-adult) to the MoBotz Ramblez voice-changing “sidekick” and the UpShot Bow & Arrow gaming system from Odyssey, Steve Spangler Science brand Oobleck! slime/quicksand and so many more that I’m really not doing the list of STEM and STEAM goodies justice. 

And of course, since drone vehicles are the wave of the future, not only is there a huge selection of drones for sale, there’s even what I call the Drone Cone, where kids can learn how to control and fly their drones in an enclosed space.

Swathi and her partner Soujanya’s husband Eshwar Babu Vanaparthi, who helped take me on the tour of the store, also promise that as the Covid pandemic hopefully becomes more and more a thing of the past, that Goofy Turtle will offer much more opportunity for kids to try out toys in the store.

There’s even plans to convert one area of the store (near the Princess Castle) into an enclosed small party room where each child in attendance can play with a toy their parents have purchased and other fun play ideas coming soon.

In other words, even though Goofy Turtle also offers more traditional play blocks, pogo sticks and other less-educational toys, this is no ordinary toy store and you should definitely bring your kids of all ages to check it out!

Goofy Turtle (2416 Grand Cypress Dr.Âşw) is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 406-0518 or visit GoofyTurtle.com and please tell them the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you!