Mitchell HS College Signings

Eleven Mitchell Student Athletes signed with colleges and universities, from the sports of football, soccer, and track.

By Emma Diehl

After their years of hard work and dedication in their respective sports, 11 J.W. Mitchell High School seniors have signed with different colleges. These athletes worked hard to secure their scholarships, and committed to their colleges because of their coaches, divisions, and academic departments.

While there are a plethora of places to find inspiration for these athletes, several listed their families as their greatest encouragement. “My family has influenced me over the years by supporting me and my aspirations I have for the game. By taking me to practices, games, and camps so I can be the best player I can be. In addition, they instilled values that will bring success to me in the future,” Lars Legg, a soccer player who signed with Lake Erie College, said.

Another source of inspiration that these student athletes listed would be their coaches. Destiny Sanchez, a soccer player who committed to Norwich University for both their soccer and Marine ROTC programs, stated that her coaches were a major influence on her student athletic career.

“My coaches pushed me until I couldn’t anymore, and they wouldn’t let me give up. They taught me skill, passion, and how to play with my heart. They showed me that I play for my team and my team plays for me, and we fight together,” Sanchez said.

In heading off to college, students face plenty of challenges, even more so with the pandemic still in effect. Head football coach Andrew Schmitz (FAC) had plenty of advice for players to help them succeed in college, as well as advice

On Feb. 3, six Mitchell football players signed with their respective colleges. Photo by Tom Mewborn

Wearing number 13, Destiny Sanchez focuses on the ball at the game against Hudson High on Jan. 25. Photo by Jillian Misemer At the meet in late March, Christopher Castro sprints towards the mat in preparation to clear the bar during the pole vault event. Photo by Lily Sarakun

In an 8-1 victory, Lars Legg competes against Gulf High School on Dec. 7. Photo by Sophia Henges

for underclassmen working to earn scholarship offers.

“I always tell guys that first impressions are important. They need to show up in shape and ready to prove themselves immediately. [For underclass I say] Grades, grades and grades. The higher your GPA is, the more options you’ll have. Don’t put yourself in a hole as a freshman and sophomore,” Schmitz said. When selecting which college to attend, athletes have to be selective just like everyone else. They have to look into things like coaching staff, past season records, and division rankings. Senior Evan Brennan, also a Lake Erie College commit, checked off all of

his boxes when he selected his college.

“I chose Lake Erie because even though college football is where I want to start my career, the coaches reached out to me and I was able to trust them. [I can have] a whole new experience in Ohio. Football has taught me so much through leadership, brotherhood, and discipline. It teaches you how to work as a team, not allowing one person to be greater than any other,” Brennan said.

Congratulations to these 11 JWMHS student athletes who committed to colleges for sports teams: Johnny Fairbank, Football, Valparaiso; Gary Shepard, Football, Centre College; Evan Brennan, Football, Lake Erie College; Maguire Anderson, Football, BYU; Elijah Hadley, Football, West Liberty University; Greg Washington, Football, Lane College; Garnell Wilds, Football, City College of San Francisco; Medhi Boutazart, Football, City College of San Francisco; Medhi Boutazart, Football, City College of San Francisco; Lars Legg, Soccer, Lake Erie College; Destiny Sanchez, Soccer, Norwich University; Cole Castro, Track, Coastal Carolina University

The new Oasis is one of three luxury apartments tracts that have been developed at the popular Hunters Ridge community by the Deeb family. One apartment tract, the Villas at Hunters Ridge, is located next to the Oasis, while the other villas at the Reserve at Hunters Ridge, are located across from the Oasis. Both the Villas at Hunters Ridge and the Reserve at Hunters Ridge have been very successful, having been at maximum capacity for some time. All villas at Hunters Ridge are maintenance free, and are constructed with both opulence and practicality, making for the perfect independent living choice. Sandra, a resident of Hunters Ridge, describes what she loves about living in the Hunters Ridge community: “My husband and I have lived in The Villas at Hunters Ridge since 2016 and will renew our lease. No kids, in a wonderful area with plenty of stores close by. Secured parking, gated community. Publix is across the street. Wonderful, caring leasing personnel and excellent maintenance staff. Just love living here.” And now, you can have the same opportunity to live life in luxury at the Oasis!

Whether you prefer basking in the sunlight of your brandnew sunroom, or cooking up a scrumptious meal in your spotless kitchen with new stainless-steel appliances, the villas at the Oasis offer the tools needed to customize your independent lifestyle just the way you want it. With various floor plans to choose from, such as the onebedroom Winchester with den, or the two-bedroom Remington, the luxury-living rental company has villa options to suit a variety of preferences and lifestyles, with “price points for just about everyone!” If you prefer more space, however, the signature 1540 sq. ft. Quail villa won’t disappoint, nor will the even larger Quail apartment of 1663 sq. ft., which includes a beautiful sunroom.

Regardless of which luxury apartment best suits you, however, all gorgeous villas at the Oasis are ground-level for convenience and arranged in a duplex style. In addition, each lovely villa includes the package of free cable television, high speed internet, as well as water, sewer, and trash services. As for

Some of the models to choose from at The Villas at Hunter’s Ridge are the Winchester (top), The Quail (opposite page, left) and the Remington (opposite page, right)

the immaculate kitchen, not only will you be able whip up some great treats for your family and friends at ease, but you will also be able to reap the benefits of energy efficient and stainlesssteel appliances, ranging from state-of-the-art self-cleaning glass ovens to strong quality microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, garbage disposals, and dish washers. Pour up something merry on your pristine granite counter tops or grab a couple of plates out of the solid wooden cabinets. Look up to the sight of beautiful tray ceilings, and enjoy the sturdiness of vinyl flooring. With the smart layout of each villa, you can decorate every room to your liking.

As for the bathrooms, every shower is step-in friendly and includes grab-bars. Washer and dryer hookups are also included in each villa. In addition, each apartment comes with attached one or two car garages for when you’re on the go. However, if you don’t have your own automobile or if you just enjoy having someone else drive, the Oasis can help with that too! Whether you need to pick up a few groceries at the store or head to a doctor’s appointment, the premier rental community provides free weekly transportation on Tuesdays and Thursdays for all residents. On top of that, the Oasis will also be offering fun amenities, such as a brand-new fitness center, and a shared clubhouse with card games, crafts, television, and more.

While the other villas at the Hunters Ridge community have not been able to host as many events due to Covid 19, the staff at the Oasis are looking forward to including some activities that will start soon. Presently, bingo and aqua-joint therapy classes are being offered. But that’s not all! Apart from amenities like the shared clubhouse and the soonto-be-built heated lap pool, the rental paradise’s new state-of-theart Cardio and Fitness center will contain a variety of equipment to help you stay fit. Residents can also look forward to the helping hand of an experienced trainer on Mondays. In fact, the Oasis will be sharing the new fitness center with the nearby Hunters Ridge apartments once it finishes construction. At the moment, however, Oasis residents are welcome to use the clubhouse, fitness center, and heated pool at Hunters Ridge.

Got a furry friend? No worries! Two pets under 35 lbs. per villa are welcome at the Oasis too! On one side of the beautiful lake in the middle of the apartments, there is even a dog park so you can take your fluffy companion for a walk. The dog park won’t be far from the new fishing pier, on which you can enjoy those bright early mornings on the water or those peaceful afternoons in the Florida sun. On the other side of the lake, a gazebo will greet you, as a haven marking the perfect end of a relaxing day. You can enjoy a nice stroll around the trail of the pond as well.

As a resident of the stately apartments, you can expect high quality service at the 24/7 fullmaintenance community, as well as top-notch construction work in all villas. Each apartment tract at Hunters Ridge, including the move-in ready Oasis, were all built by the prestigious Deeb Companies. The family-owned construction company is the oldest in both Pinellas and Pasco counties, and has been in business since 1932. Back in the day, the Deeb family noticed the growth potential of the West Pasco area, and moved their company’s head office and operations to the county in 1972. It’s no surprise that the beautiful community of West Pasco attracted the company’s attention, as well as many others. After all, just right here in Trinity, we have some of the world’s most breathtaking sunsets, some of the best dining, along with easy access to unrivaled beaches and world-famous attractions. These features, among others, are all the more reason to take advantage of living in this exciting area.

The staff at the Oasis welcome you to “Come rent!” so you can enjoy life the way it’s meant to be lived, in both luxury and convenience. Visit the local shops at Mitchell Ranch, take a swing at the Seven Springs golf course, or hike through Starkey Park. All this, and more, such as restaurants, banks, health care providers, and entertainment, are just around the corner. Make every day a dream come true in a community that is peaceful, friendly, and relaxing. The helpful team at the Oasis is here to assist you with any questions and to welcome you on your next adventure. “You are going to love living here!”

While Florida is already a coastal paradise, living life at the Oasis is “Florida Living at its absolute best!” The Oasis at Hunters Ridge is located at 5223 Hunters Ridge Drive, New Port Richey. Call the office at 727-376-5194 anytime from 9 am-4pm Monday through Sunday, to schedule your selfguided tour. Email the Oasis at huntersridgemail@gmail.com. Visit Hunter’s Ridge online at HuntersRidgeCares.com and check out the Villas at Hunter’s Ridge on Face Book.