Pasco: News and notes

By IZZY GOULD and DAVID MURPHY, Times Staff Writers
Published December 14, 2007

Duals on tap

The Gulf wrestling team hosts its Gulf Duals today and Saturday, with some of the top teams in the North Suncoast attending. Teams will meet in head-to-head matches and the winner with the top points in each pool will advance.

"There's no telling what can happen," Buccaneers coach Travis DeWalt said.

DeWalt said Manatee looks like the favorite to take the tournament, but Springstead should make a strong push, followed by Citrus and Lemon Bay. DeWalt said the Bucs probably will make a little splash with a young team three seniors and eight sophomores. Jordan Holding is the top wrestler from Gulf, but has three losses this season.

Land O'Lakes also brings a young team led by Brian Scalise (130 class) and Justin McKay (112) and Pasco will bring Eric Stroud (215) and Reyes Perez (189). Ridgewood's Dean Stupar (119) should place for the Rams, while Zephyrhills' Nick Haynes (112), a state qualifier as a freshman, again leads a tough Bulldogs squad.

Gators overcome injuries

Land O'Lakes' boys soccer team has an impressive record (11-1-1). What's more impressive is the slew of injuries the Gators have overcome to get that mark. Speedster forward Charles Lynch has battled a quad injury since scoring a goal in the Pasco game Nov. 21 and has barely played 10 minutes a game since.

"That guy has speed to burn, but he just can't get going out there," coach Mark Pearson said.

Midfielder Dominic Cutrofello has been battling a hip flexor strain, but was good enough to score a goal Wednesday night against River Ridge. Top defenseman John Gorman had a case of extreme turf toe and Wednesday was his first game back. Pearson says that every game Gorman has started, the Gators have had a shut out."

Look out for Bulldogs' defense

The top-scoring girls soccer team in Class 4A, District 8 is not Gulf with its 55 goals or Hudson with its 57 or even Springstead with 39. Nope, the top scoring team in 4A-8 is Zephyrhills with a whopping 70 goals. That's an average of 4.4 goals per game for the team that's 9-7 overall and 5-5 in the district. Top goal-scoring honors go to Bulldogs junior Brandi Mira with 23 goals and nine assists. Many of her goals come off the foot of Desiree Nieves, who has 20 assists.

Compiled by Times staff writers Izzy Gould and David Murphy and correspondent Mike Camunas.

Contact us

Izzy Gould can be reached at izzygould@gmail.com or (813) 909-4612. David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1407.

[Last modified December 13, 2007, 21:07:11]