Boys outlook

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 22, 2002

Gulf Buccaneers

VENUE: Des Little Stadium.

COACH: Tom Cain (first season).

KEY RETURNEES: Scott Berry, Sr. (800, 1,600); Trent Kennison, Sr. (100, 200, 4x100, LJ); Joe Kuziomko, Jr. (100, 200); John Kuziomko, Jr. (400).

KEY NEWCOMERS: T.J. Dickey, Fr. (300 IH, 400, 4x100).

OUTLOOK: The Bucs' new coach hopes his team will be competitive, thanks to an infusion of new talent. Dickey has potential.

Hudson Cobras

VENUE: Cobra Stadium.

COACH: Terry Voyles (first season).

KEY RETURNEES: Jonathan Bell, Sr. (800, 4x800); Chris Hurtado, Sr. (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800, HJ, PV); Joe Lisecki, SR. (400, 4x800, PV); Mike Meares, Jr. (800, 1,600, 4x800).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Ben Kimmel, Sr. (DC, SP); Brian Kirby, Fr. (100, 200); Andre Richard, Fr. (100, 200).

OUTLOOK: The task of rebuilding falls on Voyles, the football coach. Hurtado and Meares make the Cobras competitive in distance events, but Hudson lacks two important ingredients: speed and depth.

Land O'Lakes Gators

VENUE: Gator Stadium.

COACH: Al Claggett (25th season).

KEY RETURNEES: Matt Embry, Sr. (DC, SP); Brian Gibbs, Jr. (1,600, 3,200); Mike Renteria, So. (400, 800, 1,600).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Eddie Gibbs, So. (100, 200, 400, 800).

OUTLOOK: Underclassmen dominate the Gators this season, with 22 of the team's 35 athletes either freshmen or sophomores. Claggett said this is his youngest, most inexperienced team ever. They're enthusiastic, but not strong in any one event.

Mitchell Mustangs

VENUE: Mustang Stadium.

COACH: Bill Napolitano (second season).

KEY RETURNEES: Ryan Crites, Jr. (PV); Ryan Dodd, So. (300IH); Matt Green, Sr. (100, 200); Shane Graham, Sr. (TJ); Danny Sheehan, Jr. (800, 1,600, 4x800); Brandon Steiner, Jr. (800, 3,200, 4x800); Brandon Thomas, Jr. (DC, SP); Jason Weaver, Jr. (HJ, LJ).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Paul Elkins, Fr. (100, 200); Jeff Masterson, Fr., (1,600, 3,200, 4x800); John Tuccio, Fr. (3,200).

OUTLOOK: The Mustangs are better and bigger (in numbers) this season. The strength is undeniably the distance events, thanks to cross country stars Masterson, Sheehan and Steiner -- and Napolitano vows no one can beat them. But his team has to survive the field events to have a shot at first place every night. The team's biggest weakness, speed, will be exploited in the SAC meet at Wesley Chapel.

Pasco Pirates

VENUE: W.F. Edwards Stadium.

COACH: Raven Lewis (sixth season).

KEY RETURNEES: Ben Alford, Jr. (DC, PV); Jack Bailey, Sr. (800, 1,600, 3,200); Jay Brown, Sr. (HJ, PV); Thomas Hasley, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100); Keymo Pearson, Sr. (400, 4x100, 4x400, HJ, LJ, TJ).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Thomas Giella, Jr. (DC, PV); Devon Hicks, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100); Lonell Holloman, So. (100, 200, 4x100); Garion "Red" Pope, Sr. (100, 200, 4x100, LJ); Bruce Simon, Jr. (DC, SP).

OUTLOOK: Low turnout will hold the Pirates back, as usual. But Pasco still boasts some of the county's top talents. The rebuilt 4x100 team might be worth keeping an eye on, and Pearson, who finished fourth at state last year, will be chasing a state high jump title this year.

Ridgewood Rams

VENUE: Ram Booster Stadium.

COACH: Joe Breinig (second season).

KEY RETURNEES: Steve Barber, Sr. (400, 800); Kevin Brantley, Jr. (HJ); Robby Coghlan, Sr. (100, 200, 400, DC, LJ); Kale Durocher, Jr. (PV); Adamm Oliver, Jr. (DC, SP); Chris Vergnaud, Sr. (110HH, 300IH, 4x400).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Billy Compere, Jr. (100, 4x100); Chris Curry, Sr. (DC, SP); Jon Emminger, Sr. (TJ); Brendon Geronimo, So. (400, 4x400, HJ, LJ); Jason Krupinski, Sr. (100, 4x100); Mark Strong, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100).

OUTLOOK: Jim Vitale is now running for South Florida, leaving a big, unfamiliar gap in Ridgewood's make-up: the distance events. Field events is what the Rams will rely on, and hope that a new crop of sprinters can make up for those lost distance points.

River Ridge Royal Knights

VENUE: Jim Valentine Athletic Complex.

COACH: Erik Hermansen (first season).

KEY RETURNEES: Tim Dare, Sr. (DC); Adam Eberle, Sr. (DC, SP); Bryan Gibson, Sr. (300IH, PV, TJ); John Gilmore, Sr. (100, 200, 400, LJ); William Gonzelez, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200); Stephen Jacobsen, Jr. (800, 1,600, 3,200); Jorge Luna, Jr. (4x100, 4x400); Joey Mayo, Sr. (DC, SP).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Danny Ayres, Jr. (800, 1,600); Zach McDevitt, Fr. (100, 200, LJ, 4x100); Bret Litak, Fr. (1,600, 3,200).

OUTLOOK: This is Gilmore's year. The two-time state sprint qualifier and Pasco County's fastest man wants at third trip to state, and this time he wants to place. To do so he's giving up the 4x100 anchor to run the 400. Gibson is a top vaulter and the team is strong in the shot put and discus. The defending SAC champs are again one of the county's better teams -- but better than Wesley Chapel?

Wesley Chapel Wildcats

VENUE: Wildcat Stadium.

COACH: Brian Colding (first season).

KEY RETURNEES: Kurt Able, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800): Nick Carter, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100, LJ, TJ); Tim Davis, Jr. (DC, SP); Marcus Felder, Sr. (100, 200, 4x100, LJ, TJ); David Forry, So. (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800, PV); Greg Harrison, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100, PV); B.B. Roberts, So. (100, 200, 400, 4x100, HJ, LJ); Kenny "Junior" Roberts, Jr. (400, 800, 4x400, 4x800): Tyrone Tomlin, Jr. (100, 200, 4x100, HJ, LJ, TJ).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Ryan Bethell, So. (DC, SP); Nigle Bryant, Fr. (HJ, LJ, TJ); Grant Center, So. (100, 200, LJ, TJ); Chuwuka Ciayetin (100, 200, LJ); Trent Cooper, Jr. (300IH, PV); Jonathan Muhammed, Jr. (400, 4x400, HJ, LJ, TJ); Marcus Stewart, So. (HJ, LJ, TH); Travis Ugarte, Jr. (110H, 300H).

OUTLOOK: Very, very good. Wesley Chapel is many coaches' pick to win the SAC title, and the Wildcats boast the most pure athletes. Wesley Chapel's Tomlin versus River Ridge's Gilmore in the 100 and 200 is the next great rivalry, and just try to beat the 'Cats' 4x100 team. Able and Forry will soften Mitchell's advantage in the distance races. Colding won the SAC last season; barring injuries, he might win it again.

Zephyrhills Bulldogs

VENUE: Bulldog Stadium.

COACH: Troy Hochstetler (second season).

KEY RETURNEES: Jake Ashmore, So. (400, 800); Drew Barthle, Sr. (110HH, DC, PV); Travis Mickle, So. (4x100); Robert Yonkoff, Sr. (400, 4x400).

KEY NEWCOMERS: Joe Espinosa, Fr. (400, 800); Frank Fregoso, Sr. (400, 800); Shawn Stewart, Sr. (100, 200).

OUTLOOK: Hochstetler is enjoying the best turnout in years, but now the challenge is to turn those bodies into points. Barthle should be one of the county's better vaulters, and Ashmore and Yonkoff give the team strong middle distance runners.

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