Football teams set to begin new season

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2000

Professional football isn't alone in its return to action this month.

Youth football organizations throughout the county offer jamborees and opening games for thousands of players and cheerleaders beginning Saturday.

The Pinellas Youth Football Conference (PYFC) will be the first in the area to kick off activities. It will have a jamboree Aug. 12 for its 10 organizations, followed by the Suncoast Youth Football Conference (SYFC) on Aug. 19 for its eight groups.

The Pasco Police Athletic League (PPAL) season begins Aug. 26 for its 10 organizations.

"The jamboree will be at the Richard Turner Field and hosted by the St. Pete "Lil Devils,' said Geneva Waters, second-year PYFC president and 20-plus year conference volunteer.

Pinellas games begin Aug. 19 and continue through October. The playoffs start in November.

Waters will be assisted in the 33-year-old conference by first vice-president Fran Bullard, second vice-president Tyrone Felton and secretary/treasurer Gayle Lewis.

PYFC organizations include Childs Park, Gibbs, Greenwood, Lakewood, Largo, Manatee, Palmetto, Pinellas Park, St. Pete and newcomer Silver Raiders.

Last year's conference winners included the Lil Devils' varsity Flyweight, Mighty Mite and Midget teams and the junior varsity Pee Wee; as well as the Lakewood Jr. Spartans varsity Pee Wee and JV Flyweight, and the Palmetto Trojans JV Mighty Mites.

The SYFC's jamboree will be hosted by the Azalea Bulldogs at St. Petersburg Catholic High School.

Players and cheerleaders from Clearwater, Countryside, Dixie, Dunedin, Seminole, Tarpon Springs and Northeast will join Azalea for the day of activities in preparation for the 10-week season that's scheduled to begin Aug. 26.

"This will be a competitive season," said Wayne Schmoyer, SYFC president. "Clearwater and Countryside have historically been strong, but it's never a walk in the park for anyone to win."

Joining Clearwater and Countryside's strength, particularly in the Midget division (ages 11-15), are Tarpon Springs and Azalea. Seminole, Dixie and Northeast are the strong teams in the younger divisions, Schmoyer said.

Along with the Midget division are the Pee Wee (ages 9-14), Mighty Mite (8-12) and Flyweight (8-10) divisions with competition at the varsity and junior varsity levels.

"At this age, you never know exactly what your team will be like until the season begins," said Mike Carroll, head coach for Countryside's Pee Wee squad.

"The jump from Mighty Mite to Pee Wee is a big one physically, as well as the intensity of the game changes," he said. "It's difficult to gauge at the beginning of the season."

Carroll's Countryside Jr. Cougar Pee Wee squad has won the SYFC title the last two years. A third championship this season would retire the trophy. Countryside president Roger Baker is hoping for early retirement for the award.

"We have over 1,000 boys and girls this year, which is one of our largest seasons," said Baker, who first served as president in 1984.

"Last year, we had all our varsity teams in playoffs, and we expect to do well again this year. With the numbers we have, we can be more selective in our choices."

Joining the Cougars Pee Wee team as SYFC champs were its JV Flyweight squad along with the Clearwater Jr. Tornadoes varsity Flyweight and Midget teams and its JV Pee Wee and Mighty Mite clubs, plus the Seminole Chiefs varsity Mighty Mite.

Ted Mounts, president of the PPAL, and his staff of volunteers have planned the conference jamboree at River Ridge High School and expect nearly 3,000 to attend.

The East Lake Eagles and Tarpon Springs Spongers compete with six Pasco County organizations and one each from Hernando and Hillsborough. East Lake advanced to the Mighty Mite, Junior Varsity and Varsity finals but fell to Lutz.

For the next 10 weeks, teams in all three conferences will compete weekly in their bid for postseason positions and hopes of a league championship.

SWIMMING: The 20th annual Pinellas Aquatic League Championships conclude today at the Long Center in Clearwater. More than 700 swimmers, ranging in age from 5 to 18, are representing eight clubs, including Carlouel Yacht Club and Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Bardmoor Aquatic Team in Largo, East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar, Lansbrook Aquatic Club and Westlake Village Swim Club in Palm Harbor, Lakewood Country Club and the Vinoy Swim Club in St. Petersburg.

Today's finals begin at 4:30 p.m.

ICE HOCKEY: Tryouts are today at the SunBlades Ice Arena for the Tampa Bay Junior Lightning youth ice hockey organization. The Pee Wees (12-and-under) begin at 11 a.m, bantams (14-and-under) at 12:15 p.m. and midgets (17-and-under) at 6 p.m.

The TBJL recreation season registration is from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 12 and Aug. 13. Call 397-4714 or 551-9061 for more details.

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING: Suncoast Waterworks swimmers traveled to New Haven, Conn., last month to compete in the 2000 U.S. Open Synchronized Swimming Championships. Stephanie Joyce was 18th in the 16-18 division, and Kara Clemens, Jackie Hickman and Rachael Simon were 15th in the 16-18 trio competition.

The 16-18 team was 13th overall and included Clemens, Hickman, Simon, Joyce, Jennifer and Crystal Amsinger, Meredith Cooke and Jamie Freshour.

In all, nearly 350 swimmers competed at Southern Connecticut State. For information on the Suncoast WaterWorks program, call Sherri Lee at 588-2518.

DIVING: St. Petersburg's Austin Hampton and Ryan Troup are in Mission Viejo, Calif., through today competing in the U.S. National Diving Championships.

Hampton is at his third national competition and qualified for one-meter, three-meter and platform events. Troup is making his first national appearance, competing in the same events.

Last year, Hampton placed ninth in the nation in the 13-and-under boys' division in the one-meter.

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