FHSAA to live stream state cheer

Posted Feb 2, 2012 by TBO.com

Updated Feb 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM

The FHSAA Network will live video stream the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Finals beginning at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) on www.fhsaasports.com.

A general overview of the schedule of events along with information on the FHSAA Network is available at the following link: http://www.fhsaa.org/news/2012/0202 and the school-by-school times for tumbling, warm-up and performing can be found under “Schedule of Events” on the FHSAA’s Competitive Cheerleading page which can be found at: http://www.fhsaa.org/sports/competitive-cheerleading.

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Florida Gulf Coast pulls scholarship offer to Land O’ Lakes’ Garcia

Posted Jan 27, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 27, 2012 at 11:19 PM

LAND O’ LAKES— It hasn’t been a very good week for Land O’ Lakes senior forward Andy Garcia.

First, it didn’t help that Sunlake stunned his Gators 3-2 to take the Class 3A-District 7 championship on Friday night, snapping Land O’ Lakes’ seven-consecutive-title streak. To add to that, earlier in the week, Florida Gulf Coast University informed Garcia that it did not have a scholarship available for him after he verbally committed to the Eagles even before the season started.

Coach Mark Pearson told the Tampa Tribune that FCGU told Garcia he could still enroll and play for the team, though could not give him scholarship monies until his second year.

“It’s a real bad deal,” Pearson said. “However, within a day of that word getting out, he already had other offers on the table.”

Garcia, who is second on the Gators with 22 goals and 50 points, now has offers from Saint Leo, University of Tampa and North Florida, which watched Friday night’s district championship game.

“Andy will be fine, I’m sure, but it’s not something you want to hear just a week before signing day (Feb. 1),” Pearson added.

Garcia and the Gators, as district runners up, now travel to 3A-8 district champ Fivay, which picked up its first district title in program’s second season, for Tuesday’s 3A-2 region quarterfinals.

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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Zephyrhills’ Roberts meets with Kent State, others

Posted Jan 25, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 25, 2012 at 04:14 PM

Zephyrhills coach Reggie Roberts said Wednesday that senior athlete Jamal Roberts met with Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell on Tuesday, while other coaches are expected to visit him just a week before signing day on Feb. 1.

“Jamal is really taking his time and looking for a college that has both good academics and athletics that would fit for him,” Reggie Roberts told the Tribune last week. “He’s going to make a decision soon, but wants to see all his options.

Reggie Roberts said Division I-AA Presbyterian College, based in Clinton, S.C., will visit with Jamal on Thursday, while Jamal has already visited with Middle Tennessee State and garnered interest from Florida Atlantic. Lehigh University, a FCS private college in Bethlehem, Pa., has also expressed interest.

Jamal, a Pasco Tribune selection as first-team athlete, helped lead the turnaround Bulldogs to a 6-4 record with 1,580 total offensive yards, most of that as scrambling quarterback that had 20 touchdowns, including one for 91 yards.

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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Gulf’s Kruse quiet on Division I choice

Posted Jan 25, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 25, 2012 at 04:16 PM

Gulf lineman and four-year starter Jeff Kruse announced, via his Facebook page, that he has committed to a Division I college, but opted to keep everyone in suspense until signing day, which is a week from today on Feb. 1.

“Officially committed! #D-1” read Kruse’s status at at 7 a.m. this morning.

When asked which school Kruse committed to, Kruse responded by saying, “I’m keeping it a secret until signing day! Hahaha !”

Kruse, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound prospect that competed in the pay-your-way Blue-Grey National All-Star Classic at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 14, was part of a dismal 2-8 Gulf team this past season. However, Kruse’s size, strength and sub-five-second 40-yard dash time, got him a scholarship offer from Eastern Michigan on Dec. 11.

Plus, thanks to his more-than-4.0 GPA and enrollment in Gulf’s International Baccalaureate program, Ivy League schools such as Princeton, which he visited in December and is most likely attending, and Harvard have shown interest. Those schools do not offer athletic scholarships, however, academic ones, meaning Kruse would have to try out for those teams.

“I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it!!” his mother, Christine Kruse, commented on her son’s Facebook status.

Kruse, who named a Pasco Tribune‘s All County first team offensive lineman, would most likely need to bulk up to 300 pounds plus to play guard at the next level, but has said teams are interested to try him at defensive tackle, as well.

Correspondent Andy Villamarzo contributed to this report. 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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Mitchell QB Whittaker commits to Stetson as CB

Posted Jan 24, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 24, 2012 at 11:57 PM

Mitchell senior quarterback Spencer Whittaker committed to Stetson University in Deltona today, but did so as a cornerback, Mustangs coach Scott Schmitz said Tuesday.

Not a bad pick up for Whittaker, who didn’t play a down on defense this past season, instead leading the Mustangs and their offense to a 5-5 record.

“That’s the nature of the beast because I’m not a big on having my quarterback play both ways, especially if we’re not that deep at that position,” said Schmitz, who returned to the program he started in 1999. “But Spencer is a very good cornerback and that’s what Stetson wants him for.”

Whittaker, who went 32-for-65 passing for 450 yards and four touchdowns and added four more rushing, had eight interceptions combined in his sophomore and junior seasons, which is what Stetson based its decision on, Schmitz said. Whittaker plans to attend Stetson’s law school after going through the pre-law program for the Hatters.

And Schmitz calls the commitment “a good package” for Stetson.

“He was a two-year starter at cornerback, so he knows what to do, they’ve seen his film, and put that with his great grades and GPA — he’s going to quite well there,” Schmitz said. “He’s very interested in becoming a lawyer, and I fully expect him to do so.”

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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Former Gulf star faces drug charges

Posted Jan 19, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Jan 19, 2012 at 07:28 PM

Former Gulf High and current University of Florida sophomore defensive tackle Leon Orr was served with a notice to appear on two drug charges after campus police searched his Gainesville dorm room Jan. 10.

The report, obtained by the campus newspaper The Alligator, says Orr’s dorm room in building eight of Keys Complex was searched by campus police and a “baggy of a green leafy substance, a glass pipe and rolling papers” were on Orr’s desk and bedside table.

Orr is being charged with possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He will appear in court Feb. 8.

After the “green leafy substance” was confirmed as marijuana, Orr was read his rights and admitted the items found were his, the report said. The report doesn’t say what let to the search.

Since Will Muschamp replaced Urban Meyer as head coach, eight different Gators football players have been arrested.

At Gulf, Orr was a Pasco Tribune first-team selection in 2009. As a redshirt freshman for the Gators, he had 10 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss.

Correspondent Andy Villamarzo contributed to this report.

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Pasco’s Janarion Grant picks up offer from USF; John Baxter gets Wayne St. offer

Posted Jan 17, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 17, 2012 at 12:08 PM

In what is sure to be first of many, Pasco junior receiver Janarion Grant picked up a Division I scholarship offer Tuesday, this one coming locally from USF.

Pirates coach Tom McHugh added in a text message that senior lineman John Baxter received an offer from Wayne State, a Division II college in Detroit, MI.

Grant, arguably Pasco’s most talented athlete and state champ in the long jump, had 22 total touchdowns, including 14 receiving for the 13-1 Pirates. Grant, who also plays cornerback and added a 101-yard interception return against Jesuit in the region final, has also seen time at running back and quarterback during games.

Grant will more than likely take over at QB for Pasco next season, as McHugh and staff will probably install more of a spread-option, wildcat formation for Grant’s immense speed.

Baxter was part of an underrated offensive line that allowed senior quarterback Jacob Guy pass for 42 touchdowns and 2,672 yards, both county records. Baxter also notched 26 tackles and three sacks at defensive tackle.

These two players were part of one of the best football teams in Pasco County history, marching to a state semifinal, Pasco’s second in four seasons. However, Pasco lost heartbreakingly in triple overtime 41-38 to Crawfordville Wakulla on Dec. 9.

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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TC’s holder commits to Ball State

Posted Jan 15, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jan 15, 2012 at 01:33 PM

Tampa Catholic defensive back Tyree Holder, a three-year starter for the Crusaders, made a verbal commitment to Ball State University to his official visit to the school Sunday in Muncie, Indiana.

Holder also had offers from Washington State, Central Michigan, Toldeo, Georgia Southern, Stony Brook, Bethune-Cookman University and North Carolina Central.

Holder said multiple factors pointed to Ball State, including spiritual ones.

“I felt like it’s the right place for me and it’s just a great environment,” Holder said. “I prayed about it and asked God to give me a sign last week. And when I got here, I felt like I had it. It all just felt right.

Ball State competes in the Mid-American Conference and offeres one of the nation’s top communications schools. Holder’s father, Bobbie, said he was impressed with that department and the coaching staff.

“I think the coaches really care about their kids and they stay on top of them about their education,” Bobbie Holder said. “I feel like he’s in good hands here.

Tyree said he has no plans to redshirt his freshman year and wants to be in the mix for a starting job in the fall.

“I’m going to have to compete like everyone else,” Holder said. “I’m looking forward to that when I get here.”

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Pasco’s Dudley-Giles visits Middle Tennessee

Posted Jan 12, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 12, 2012 at 01:22 PM

Pasco athlete Trey Dudley-Giles has made official visits, however, not made a decision on his collegiate plans.

In fact, Dudley-Giles made an official visit to Middle Tennessee on Friday and picked up his ninth offer.

“(There are) no (other) offers,” Pirates coach Tom McHugh added in a text message Wednesday evening.

Dudley-Giles, who was named to The Pasco Tribune’s all-county first team with a team-high 1,066 receiving yard and 14 touchdowns, also has offers from Eastern Michigan, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Rutgers, Ball State, UMass, South Alabama and Ohio.

McHugh says Dudley-Giles will make more official visits and probably make a decision closer to national signing day, Feb. 1.

Teammate, quarterback Jacob Guy, has three offers on the table: Western Michigan, UMass and Ohio.

The two helped lead Pasco to a 13-1 record and its second state semifinal trip in the past four seasons. The Pirates, unfortunately, lost to eventual state runner up, Crawfordville Wakulla 41-38 in triple overtime.

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Gulf has no plans to appeal FHSAA suspensions, fines handed out for role in Tuesday’s brawl

Posted Jan 11, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 11, 2012 at 10:26 PM

Gulf boys soccer coach Steve Emerson is still digesting it all.

Just 24 hours after playing Fivay to a scoreless draw that ended in a benches-clearing brawl, the Buccaneers were handed a six-game suspension to senior captain and leading goal scorer Travis Jehs and a game suspension to three other players. And with all that, Emerson is still sorting through the day-after wreckage.

“It’s been a whirlwind, for sure,” Emerson told the Tampa Tribune on Wednesday evening. “There isn’t really anything good that came from this, though. It’s just been a mess.”

Emerson says the school has no plans to appeal the suspension handed to Jehs and his fellow players, not the three $100 fines to the school for the players leaving the bench. In the ruckus, Fivay player Courtland Harrison was also given a six-game suspension, with the ruling to his and Jehs suspension was because of a “forceful push”, according to FHSAA.

“We don’t have any plans, and I have to look at the whole thing as I wonder why more Fivay players weren’t suspended as well, but we still have to look over just what happened,” Emerson said. “I don’t condone or approve what happend or of Travis’ actions. They’re not excused, and he’ll be the first person to not excuse them. It wasn’t the best decision, and he knows it.”

Emotions ran high before and during the game as the two teams were playing for the district tournament’s top seed in Class 3A, District 8. However, after the draw, Fivay is now 8-1-2 in district play, while the Buccaneers are 7-2-1. Both have one district game left — Anclote for Fivay and River Ridge for Gulf — and if both teams win, Fivay would lock up the No. 1 seed.

“This game had a lot of emotion from start to finish, obviously,” Emerson said. “We’re probably locked into the No. 2 seed now, which is OK, but as the players all played at the level they did, it showed on and off the field — the emotions. This isn’t us. This isn’t what I built this Gulf team to be or represent and it’s unlike both teams because many of them are friends. It’s just a situation where the emotions got the best of everyone, and you can’t let that happen during the game.”

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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