Anclote distance runner Argishti Gazari signs with USF

Posted Apr 19, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated Apr 19, 2012 at 02:51 PM

Anclote distance runner Argishti Gazari signed a letter of intent with USF on April 11, Sharks coach Alan Parmenter said Thursday afternoon.

Gazari has arguably been the best boys runner in Pasco County, as the senior took home SAC and district titles in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. The senior is now eyeing regional crowns in Class 2A-Region 3 and will be a favorite to advance to states in the distance runs.

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Ridgewood posts football coach opening a third time

Posted Apr 19, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated Apr 19, 2012 at 01:05 PM

Ridgewood’s search for a coach to replace Kent Reed, who resigned back in early January, will continue as the school has reposted the job online for a second time, the third time the job has been posted.

Reed went 5-15 with the Rams the past two seasons, but Ridgewood is finding it very hard to replace the school’s third posting of the football position. In Ridgewood’s initial posting, many seemingly-abled applicants filed for the position, including former Shorecrest Prep coach Phil Hayford, former USF assistant Richard Kravitz and former Lakeland Victory Christian coach Jeff Schaum.

With spring football about two weeks away, the Rams are the lone program in Pasco County without a coach in place. Hudson ended its long search finding a replacement for former coach Justin Fenton when it hired former Gaither coach Mark Kantor.

Correspondent 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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Two Wharton soccer players make verbal commitments

Posted Apr 19, 2012 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated Apr 19, 2012 at 11:57 AM

Two Wharton girls soccer players have made college commitments Wildcats coach Denis Vukorep said Thursday.

Junior Ashni Deschenes has verbally committed to Stetson University, while teammate Leah Chisolm has committed to Eckerd College.

Deschenes has been the Wildcats leading scorer for the last two seasons, scoring 14 goals and six assists this past season, earning the forward first team Western Conference honors and she was honorable mention on the Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough County list. Stetson is a Division I program that plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Chisolm, a midfielder has been a standout for the Wildcats. In her junior season she had two goals and seven assists. Chisolm named second team on the Tribune’s All-Hillsborough County list and is a two-time Western Conference first teamer. Eckerd plays in Division-II’s Sunshine State Conference. 

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Berkeley’s Dagostino to retire; Coup takes over

Posted Apr 13, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Apr 13, 2012 at 02:26 PM

After 28 years at Berkeley Prep varsity girls volleyball coach, Randy Dagostino is going to retire.

Dagostino will stay on as an assistant coach with the girls program and will continue to serve as the head coach of the varsity boys volleyball team. John Coup, who has served as an assistant coach at Berkeley for 14 years, will become the girls head coach and will remain an assistant with the boys program.

“Probably the most enjoyable part of coaching for me was to see the application by our team of things that we specifically worked on in practice,” said Dagostino in a statement. “I knew if my teams believed enough in what we were trying to do and applied it to game situations, then we were in a good place as a team. I also have enjoyed watching the transformation of my teams from the opening day of practice to the season’s end.  That journey is going to be hard to replace but I have the memories of so many wonderful experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime.”

Dagostino compiled an 829-161 record and currently ranks 33rd on the National Federation of High School’s all-time girls volleyball coaching wins list. He led his team to its third-straight state title this season and has 15 state championships in his career at Berkeley. He has been named the Florida High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year seven times and the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year Award three times, most recently in 2010 and 2011.

Dagostino was hired at Berkeley in 1981 as the athletic director and baseball coach after serving the same roles at Tampa Prep for five years. He was named the head girls volleyball coach in 1983 and won his first state championship three years later.

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Transfer bill presented to Governor

Posted Apr 13, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Apr 13, 2012 at 01:16 PM

House Bill 1403, recently approved by the House and Senate, has been presented to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.

Under this bill, any high school, including a traditional public school, a charter school, a private school, a virtual school, and a home education cooperative, is eligible for membership in the Florida High School Athletic Association. Membership, however, is voluntary.

It also clarifies eligibility for transfer students, so that they can continue to play as long as their transfer is approved by the local district school board.

The FHSAA will be required to adopt bylaws for the following:

• Required background screening for investigators and reasonable conditions under which investigations can take place.

• Sanctions for coaches who have committed major violations.

• Procedures and standards for student eligibility determination.

Due process protections will be preserved for student eligibility appeals when new evidence is available.

If approved by the Governor, which was passed 21-18 by the Senate and 78-24 by the House, will take effect July 1.

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Wiregrass LHP Ryan Kopenski signs with Lenoir CC in North Carolina

Posted Apr 12, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Apr 12, 2012 at 09:12 AM

Another left-handed pitcher from Pasco County will play collegiately, as Wiregrass Ranch senior LHP Ryan Kopenski will sign with Lenoir Community College in North Carolina, coach Jeff Swymer told the Tampa Tribune on Thursday morning.

Kopenski, who is 7-2 this season, pitched a gem in the Bulls 3-2 win over Land O’ Lakes (15-6) on Wednesday night, throwing a compete game, giving up just five hits and an earned run, while striking out three and walking one.

Kopenski faced fellow LHP, Gator senior Brad Hencke, who is committed to the University of Tampa and also threw a complete game (six innings), giving up two earned runs, five hits and struck out two.

Leading the Bulls (16-5) with a 1.39 ERA, Kopenski has 27 strikeouts this season in 47.1 innings, and Wiregrass is in second place in Class 7A, District 9, with a make-up game at Gaither on Thursday evening.

This season, the Lenoir Community College Lancers are 16-15 and part of an athletic program that carries just baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

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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Donohoe filling out staff at Freedom

Posted Apr 10, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Apr 12, 2012 at 03:16 PM

Just a few weeks on the job as Freedom High’s new head football coach, Todd Donohoe has just about finished filling out his staff.

Taking the reins of offensive coordinator is Don Mesick, who held the same job for Palm Harbor University. He’s also worked as an assistant at Spoto and Dunedin. Assuming the role of defensive coordinator for Donohoe is Josh Ballinger, who held that post at Wesley Chapel.

Other positions Donohoe has filled:

Running backs coach: Lyn Gross, who was an assistant with Donohoe at Strawberry Crest.

Offensive line: Tony Mayberry, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player who made three Pro Bowls.

Defensive line: Patrick Horn and Quintin Smith.

Linebackers: Guy Kimbrough, a former assistant with Donohoe at Strawberry Crest, and Mark Cusick, a former Ohio State player.

Wide receivers: Stephen Jones

Defensive backs: Jose Brendana.

Quarterbacks: Michael Sneed, former head JV coach.

Head JV: Brian Conley, coached with Mesick at Palm Harbor.

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Zhills tennis star Sarah VandeBerg signs with South Carolina Upstate

Posted Apr 5, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Apr 11, 2012 at 10:59 PM

Zephyrhills girls tennis state qualifier and junior circuit standout Sarah VandeBerg signed her letter-of-intent Wednesday to play at the University of South Carolina Upstate..

VandeBerg, who was a state quarterfinalist in 2011 qualified for state this season by winning the No. 1-seed finals (6-1, 6-1) Tuesday.

VandeBerg can immediately help the NCAA Division I USC Upstate, which is located in Spartanberg, S.C. The Spartans were winless (0-16) in 2011 and are 6-12 this season.

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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The Lakes’ Vincent signs with Maine-Machias

Posted Apr 4, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Apr 4, 2012 at 05:23 PM

Academy at the Lakes girls basketball player Yvanessa Vincent has signed a letter-of-intent to the University of Maine at Machias.

Vincent, who helped the Wildcats to a Class 2A state Final Four appearance, averaged 11.2 points and 10.7 rebounds a game for coach Karim Nohra’s squad.

 

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Pasco County Varsity Baseball Spring Break Tournament (UPDATED)

Posted Mar 31, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Apr 6, 2012 at 09:31 AM

Updated scores/schedule;

Saturday
Wiregrass Ranch 16, Anclote 1

Monday
At Wiregrass Ranch
Sunlake 5, Fivay 0
Sunlake 6, Pasco 5
Wesley Chapel 4, Hudson 2
Zephyrhills 16, Gulf 4
Ridgewood 12, Anclote 2

At Zephyrhills
Mitchell 9, Hudson 8

Tuesday
At Wiregrass Ranch
Wiregrass Ranch 10, Ridgewood 1
Mitchell 9, Wesley Chapel 4
Land O’ Lakes 10, Gulf 0
Pasco 13, Fivay 1
Pasco 12, Zephyrhills 3

At Zephyrhills
Land O’ Lakes 9, Zephyrhills 4

Wednesday
At Wiregrass Ranch
Consolation Games
Wesley Chapel 12, Fivay 8
Wesley Chapel 6, Anclote 5
Fivay 5, Ridgewood 3
Zephyrhills 14, Hudson 6

Thursday
At Wiregrass Ranch
Consolation Game
Pasco 12, Anclote 1
Ridgewood 6, Hudson 3

Semifinal
Mitchell 8, Land O’ Lakes 5
Wiregrass Ranch 5, Sunlake 4

Friday
At Wiregrass Ranch
Third-place game
Land O’ Lakes vs. Sunlake, 2 p.m.
Home Run Derby, 5 p.m.
Championship
Mitchell vs. Wiregrass Ranch, 7:30 p.m.

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