Karen Cooley returns as Zephyrhills girls swimming coach

Posted May 25, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated May 25, 2012 at 07:01 AM

Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden announced early Friday morning that Karen Cooley will return as the Bulldogs girls swimming coach.

“Coach Cooley brings a level of eagerness and commitment to the program that will show immediate benefits,” Van Gorden said in a e-mail. “Partnered with boys swim coach Brian Vaile, (they) will provide a strong foundation that will build the program for years to come.”

Cooley returns plenty of experience to her position, coaching Zephyrhills from 1999-2003. Prior to that she coached Land O’ Lakes swimming from 1996-1999.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @MikeCamunasTrib.

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Jeffrey Shank out as Gulf boys basketball coach

Posted May 24, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated May 24, 2012 at 04:51 PM

Jeffrey Shank is no longer employed at Gulf High and is out as boys basketball coach, according to Buccaneers athletic director Travis DeWalt.

“Jeffrey Shank is no longer employed at Gulf High School,” DeWalt said Thursday afternoon. “We’re looking to fill the position as soon as possible. That’s our timeframe for hiring someone at this moment.”

DeWalt stated he has no further comments on the situation.

In Shank’s lone season as basketball coach, he led the Buccaneers to a 10-14 record, with the season ending with a Class 5A-District 8 quarterfinal loss to Ridgewood 62-55.

Shank was tabbed as the successor after the 2010-2011 season when former Gulf coach Buck DeWitt was forced to step down due to health reasons.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter at @andyvillamarzo.

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Berkeley Prep wins FHSAA Academic Award standings

Posted May 24, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 24, 2012 at 04:25 PM

For the second consecutive year, Berkeley Prep was named the overall Florida High School Athletic Association Academic Team champion for Class 4A.

Eight athletic teams earned individual Academic Team Champion honors throughout the 2011-12 year. The overall champion in each classification was decided after points were tallied for each team who earned a Top-10 finish in their respective sport.

Berkeley’s 2011-12 FHSAA Academic Team Champions
Boys Cross Country 3.86 GPA
Boys Swimming & Diving 3.74
Girls Swimming & Diving 3.83
Boys Basketball 3.55
Girls Basketball 3.74
Softball 3.82
Boys Track & Field 3.54
Boys Volleyball 3.78

Other area schools in the Top 10 were Sunlake (6A, fifth), Jesuit (5A, third), Academy of the Holy Names (4A, third) and Cambridge (2A, 10th)

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Shank out as Gulf boys hoops coach

Posted May 24, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated May 24, 2012 at 04:04 PM

Jeffrey Shank is no longer employed at Gulf High School and is out as boys basketball coach, Buccaneers athletic director Travis DeWalt confirmed Thursday afternoon.

“Jeffrey Shank is no longer employed at Gulf High School,” DeWalt said. “We’re looking to fill the position as soon as possible. That’s our time frame for hiring someone at this moment.”

DeWalt stated he has no further comments on the situation.

In Shank’s lone season as basketball coach, he led the Buccaneers to a 10-14 record, with the season ending in the Class 5A-District 8 quarterfinal loss to Ridgewood (62-55).

Shank was tabbed as the successor for Buck DeWitt after the 2010-2011 season when DeWitt was forced to step down due to health reasons.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter at @andyvillamarzo.

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Tampa Catholic seeks lacrosse coaches

Posted May 24, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 24, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Tampa Catholic High School is looking for qualified candidates for head boys and girls lacrosse coaches.

Please forward résumés to Athletic Director Freddie Langiotti by June 1, 2012 at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Breakfast with the Terrapins

Posted May 23, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 23, 2012 at 12:35 AM

Join Tampa Tribune prep writer Rick Harmon Wednesday morning from Port Sr. Lucie as the Tampa Prep Terrapins battle Jacksonville Providence in a Class 3A state baseball semifinal.

Tampa Prep, under the direction of AJ Hendrix, is making its first appearance in the state Final Four. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. We’ll launch the live chat at 9:45 a.m.

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Former Robinson receiver Ellingson signed by Bucs

Posted May 22, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated May 22, 2012 at 11:50 AM

When Robinson High wide receiver Greg Ellingson signed with Florida International University in 2007, Knights coach Mike DePue said the Panthers were “getting a steal.”

Some five years later, looks like DePue was right. Not only did Ellingson go on to become one of FIU’s top receivers, he has found a way to keep playing football as a pro. Ellingson, a first team all-Hillsborough County selection by the Tampa Tribune in 2006, was signed today as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Ellingson was first signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 but was waived before the start of the regular season. He went on to play in the Arena Football League for the New Orleans VooDoo before being signed today by the Bucs following the release of Tyler Shoemaker of Boise State. Before leaving the VooDoo this season, Ellingson had 33 receptions for 475 yards and eight touchdowns.

Photo: Greg Ellingson from his senior season at Robinson, where he was a first team all-Hillsborough County selection by the Tampa Tribune.

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Panthers get their state title rings

Posted May 21, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated May 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Members of Plant’s 2011 Class 8A state championship football team received their long-awaited title rings Saturday night. The Panthers’ ring ceremony was staged at halftime of the school’s annual Black & Gold intra-squad scrimmage at Dad’s Stadium.

Head coach Robert Weiner presented the rings by calling out all the names of the players from the squad that knocked off nationally-ranked Miramar High last season in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.

This is the fourth championship ring the Panthers’ football program has produced in the past six seasons. Each time, Weiner has been the ring’s chief designer. The 2011 rings feature a football helmet bordered by five stones. The four black stones in the corners of the ring represent the four state championships Plant has captured since its first in 2006.

Plant defeated Ponte Vedra Beach Nease 25-21 in Miami’s Dolphins Stadium for the 2006 Class 4A state championship, Tallahassee Lincoln 34-14 in Orlando for the 2008 Class 4A state title, Manatee 21-14 in Orlando for the 2009 championship and, last December in the Citrus Bowl, Miramar 31-20.

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UPDATED: Brandon state baseball final moved to 4:50 p.m.

Posted May 20, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 20, 2012 at 04:16 PM

After an afternoon rain shower, the starting time for the Class 7A state baseball championship game between Brandon and Venice has been moved to 4:50 p.m. at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

Click here to join Tribune prep writer Rick Harmon in a live chat from the stadium.

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Gulf’s Ennis promoted to head girls hoops coach

Posted May 20, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated May 20, 2012 at 02:05 PM

Gulf didn’t have to look far for a successor to girls basketball coach Mike Quarto.

She was sitting right next to him.

Assistant coach Claire Ennis has been promoted to the head coach position, Ennis conformed Sunday.

“I’m just so grateful for all the support I’ve received from everyone and this great opportunity,” Ennis said. “I learned a lot under Mike (Quarto) last season and continue to learn from him. The girls and I are excited about keeping the great tradition this school has and not much will be changing in the aspect. We’re looking to just continue the success.”

Ennis, who was a four-year starter at The State University of New York at Potsdam and coached at Clarkson University (Potsdam, N.Y.) and Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), before moving to Florida.

Ennis takes over one of the most talented girls basketball team in Pasco County, as the Buccaneers return point guard Lexy Schulman (9.1 points per game, 9.8 assists per game) and guards Kayla Kivinski (18.2 points per game) and Kadejah Saunders (16.8 points per game). Gulf went 28-3 under Quarto last season and reached the Class 5A-2 region final, losing to St. Johns Bartram Trail, 56-39.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter at @andyvillamarzo.

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