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Land O'Lakes fills vacancies in volleyball and girls swimming.
By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 30, 2002
Land O'Lakes has filled two of its coaching vacancies, hiring former Ridgewood standout Stephanie Voorhees for volleyball and Robin Hilgenberg for girls swimming.
Voorhees, 26, is entering her first year as a biology teacher at Land O'Lakes this fall. Hilgenberg, 45, has worked extensively with local recreational swim teams, including the Land O'Lakes Lightning the past two years.
"We're pretty excited about both of them joining us as coaches," principal Max Ramos said Monday. "Stephanie is very enthusiastic and has already had her first team meeting, and Robin has been a volunteer in our program, so the kids are very familiar with her."
Hilgenberg takes over for Glenna Chamberlain, who stepped down after last season, but said she and boys coach Barbara Hayes will both work with both teams. One of her first priorities is to get more volunteers involved and better educated as diving judges.
With more than 40 girls and 20 boys on last year's team, she hopes to continue the high turnout and improve on the program's success.
"Numbers is not a problem," said Hilgenberg, whose oldest son Craig, 15, qualified for last year's state meet and is among the Gators' top returnees. "We have a lot of depth, and we'll have a good time and, hopefully, a real successful year."
As for volleyball, Voorhees didn't even know about the vacancy when she interviewed for a position teaching biology. After spending the past three years as a research biologist in Emory University's orthopedics department, she decided to return home to her family in Pasco County.
"I had a lot of fun meeting my team, but I'm just getting to know them," said Voorhees, who had to stop playing volleyball after a 1997 car accident forced her to have two back surgeries. She has recently returned to playing but is looking forward to taking the court with her new team.
One of the top hitters on Ridgewood's 1992 state title softball team, Voorhees is the second former Rams standout to enter the county's high school coaching ranks in as many years. Former teammate Julie (Krull) Marks guided Wesley Chapel to a district title and regional playoff win in her first season as head coach.
In addition, four more former Rams under longtime coach Marlyn Bavetta -- Dawn Stream, Chrissy Martin, Gina Garritani and Jennifer Mobly -- coached in middle schools on the county's west side last year.
Bavetta said she was thrilled to hear about Voorhees at Land O'Lakes and looks forward to attending a game where she can see former players coaching against each other.
"It's so nice to see that they learned enough that they're putting back their love of the game, instilling it in younger players," said Bavetta, who retired in 2000. "I'd like to go to a Land O'Lakes-Wesley Chapel game this year. I'll sit right in the middle and not cheer for either side. Or I could cheer for both, I suppose."