Pasco: News and Notes

By Times staff
Published September 5, 2007

Nine's just fine

Bishop McLaughlin won't look for another team to replace the game it lost when its season opener against Hernando Christian was rained out. Per FHSAA regulations, Hernando Christian will not be charged with a forfeit, which means the Hurricanes will finish the season with just nine games on their record. "We're okay with nine," athletic director Mike Zelenka said.

Girl power

Did you know there's at least three girl placekickers on the North Suncoast? Well, there were until Tuesday afternoon.

We already knew about Gulf kicker Courtney Cohen, the senior soccer star who became the Bucs' first girl football player. A pair of Nature Coast girls were trying to improve at the JV level in hopes of perhaps one day kicking for the Sharks. They informed coach Jamie Joyner on Tuesday they could no longer kick for the Sharks because Thursday night JV games were interfering with club soccer practice for the Hernando Heat. Nature Coast sophomore Danielle Doucet is a sophomore and perhaps better known for tearing up the track than the turf. Doucet was a state qualifier in three short-distance events as a freshman. Joyner invited her to preseason camp and says she's good from 30 yards and closer. Then there's Sharks junior Taylor Agricola, who joined on her own and has some work to do.

P.S.: Don't miss Gulf's first promotional video, made by the Bucs softball coach, featuring Cohen at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1IRm_PtNXPke_SCl

Alumni update

Sederrick Cunningham, WR, Furman (Zephyrhills '07): Cunningham didn't play in the Paladins' season-opening win over Presbyterian. He is expected to redshirt this season, but don't be alarmed: Furman spokesman Hunter Reid said the Paladins generally redshirt "between 95 and 100 percent" of their freshmen.

Adamm Oliver, DE, Georgia Tech (Ridgewood '04): After helping hold Notre Dame to minus-8 yards rushing in the Yellow Jackets' 33-3 win Saturday, the senior raved about the effort to the Associated Press. "It was probably one of the best performances I've ever been around since I've been at Tech," said Oliver, a defensive end who had three tackles in the win.

Joe Weatherford, QB, Central Florida (Land O'Lakes '07): The freshman, currently backing up starter Kyle Israel, didn't play in UCF's 25-23 win over N.C. State, but he did get a compliment from coach George O'Leary in the week leading up to the game. "For a true freshman, I think he's done a great job," the coach told the Orlando Sentinel. "He's got great arm strength. It's just that there's so much involved when you're over the center getting things done."

Darrell Davis, WR, N.C. State (Pasco '06): The sophomore played but did not catch a pass in the Wolfpack's loss to UCF.

Set your DVR: Ridgewood, Sunlake at Land O'Lakes, swimming, 6 p.m.

It's a swim meet for the ages. Okay, maybe that's overstating it, but you get the idea. Brad Morrison returns to face his old team, the Gators, now swimming as a Seahawk for Sunlake. Morrison is considered by many to be the top boys swimmer in Pasco County. Also returning is Sunlake junior Nikki Walters, who was a top swimmer at Land O'Lakes. This is a good opportunity for Ridgewood senior Melissa Bell and freshman Joseph Gechke to make some noise. And the Gators should be in the thick of competition with plenty of names to choose from and top coaches Barbara Hayes and Robin Hilgenberg.

[Last modified September 4, 2007, 23:04:00]