42 minute read
A plea for Wesley Chapel to vote in the Primary Election on August
Those months of doing laps in the early morning at the Seven Oaks Clubhouse pool were about to pay off. It was a tough swim – the current seemed to be taking her to the right, so much so that, at one point, the boat had to move from her left side to her right to keep her from swimming into a channel where there were other boats.
“I sprint and I sprint,” Angie says, adding that she focused on her breathing and keeping her shoulders loose. She swam the final 200 meters alone, as the boat could go no further, due to the depth of the lake. Because her luggage was lost when she arrived in Scotland, Angie was without her contact lenses and prescription goggles. She says that all she could see was a big patch of yellow, which was the beach, “and I was told just swim straight into it. So I swam and swam, yet the beach was so near yet so far, like it can never be reached.” She finally saw some rocks on the lake floor, and crawled and fell and crawled and fell again across the slippery rocks on the shore. When she was completely on shore and not touching any water, the swim was officially over. “I raised my arms, signaled to the boat and there, we completed our marvelous Loch Ness swim,” Angie said.
Not only did Angie finish her swim in borrowed goggles, she was Angie Ng, top left, celebrates swimming the length of the Loch Ness Lake with her team of friends, and poses in front of the stories lake the day before the swim. (Photos: Courtesy of Angie Ng)
fortunate enough to get the last onepiece swimsuit in her size from Primark, a discount store, for six pounds, or seven U.S. dollars.
Angie has been swimming since she was 3 years old, her mother starting her in the pool to combat her bronchitis. She continued to swim as she grew up, competing on the Chinese National Team in international and Junior Olympic events.
She also swam competitively for two years at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, before work, marriage and children took her out of the pool.
Despite participating in the milelong Hong Kong Cross Harbour Race in 2016 and 2018, the last year the event was held due to Covid (until resuming in December 2021), she barely has had time to get in the pool.
But, now that daughter Kristen is at the University of Central Florida and son Kelvin is at the University of Washington (in Seattle), Angie’s mornings are free for swimming.
She just needed a mission.
In January, she found one when Eliza called with the crazy idea to swim Loch Ness. Angie eagerly jumped into training to be part of the first relay team from Hong Kong to even attempt the challenge.
While Angie trained at the 89º Seven Oaks pool, the water in Loch Ness averages around 59º in July. It was 55-57º during her swim.
Because she was rusty, she could only swim 500 meters when she started training, but soon added more distance, with 24 laps becoming 250 laps and more this summer. Most days she swam 5,000 meters, or a little more than three miles, and even managed a few longer (10,000m) workouts.
In preparation for chilly Loch Ness, she filled her bathtub at home with ice and water 3-4 times a week, taking 15-minute soaks hoping it would prepare her for the lake. Angie and her team started a Facebook page documenting their preparation, and to raise money for charity. A nurse practitioner at the University of South Florida, Angie is donating 100% of her portion to Doctors Without Borders.
As for Nessie, Angie can’t be sure if Loch Ness’s famed monster was around or not, because she didn’t have her goggles.
But, if Nessie was there, she wasn’t the only monster in Loch Ness that day.
By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent
It’s been one year since Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves officially opened her Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute on S.R. 54 in Lutz, a mile or so west of the Tampa Premium Outlets.
“Dr. Rosh,” as her patients call her, says her practice is growing, as people discover the benefits of coming to her for cosmetic services to improve the look of their eyes, faces, and skin.
Some patients receive insurance-based services, typically after being referred to Dr. Rosh by their primary care doctor or dermatologist. For example, some patients need surgery or treatment to restore the function of their eyes, for conditions such as droopy lids, eyelid malposition, thyroid eye disease, tear duct surgery or reconstruction after cancer surgery.
Others receive aesthetic treatments, such as lower lid surgery, laser skin resurfacing, ear lobe repairs, upper lip lifts, photofacials and laser peels.
Dr. Rosh, who recently was named a “Best of the Best” Cosmetic Surgeon in Tampa Bay, Gold Award winner, by the Tampa Bay Times, says that even
(L.-r.) Lisa Fahey (front desk and insurance specialist), Dr. Roshni-Ranjit Reeves and Susan Gregor (lead ophthalmic technician and first assistant) work together to help you not only see better, but look better as well. (Photos: Charmaine George) functional surgeries often result in patients not only being able to see better and feel better, but also have a nice aesthetic look when they are done.
“The functional and cosmetic sides blend together a lot,” says Dr. Rosh, “like, if patients do upper lid surgery through their insurance but then decide they want lower lid and skin resurfacing, too.” She says her cosmetic patients typically also want to look refreshed — or like a better version of themselves — but not change how they look. “I feel like the word has gotten out,” she says. “We’re doing surgeries in our office that people are happy with in terms of speedy recovery, less downtime and it’s easier to come in and get picked up when there’s none of the stress involved with going to the hospital.”
She says she continues to get great reviews on the surgeries she does with her “magic wand,” a carbon dioxide laser that she says makes very precise incisions, which helps minimize both bleeding and recovery time.
The procedure she performs most often removes excess fat from under the eyes, and she typically adds laser skin resurfacing to remove fine lines.
And, she adds, “Most surgical patients can drive in around three days and may be bruised or swollen for 1-2 weeks. And, most of the swelling resolves within a month.”
While surgery volume has picked up, so have patients coming in for nonsurgical treatment options, such as photofacials, which require no downtime, and help to get rid of red and brown spots or patches on the skin, including helping patients with rosacea.
She says that at this time of year, people want to have a nice glow for the
Dr. Rosh has received outstanding reviews for her non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as Botox® treatments, and she is happy to help her patients look and feel their best. holidays without any down time. Her established patients often don’t see her over the summer while they’re busy traveling, which she says is fine as long as they are wearing sunscreen, using antioxidants to protect from UV damage and on a good medical-grade skincare routine.
“Then, they come in during the fall and let me laser away any sun damage from the summer,” Dr. Rosh says.
The week of August 15-19, Dr. Rosh will have a special camera in her office to look at blemishes, damage from the sun and ultraviolet light, and redness under the skin at a microscopic level. “There’s a double mirror, so the patient and I can both see the same thing,” Dr. Rosh says. “It’s a nice way of looking at the skin in an objective way at a microscopic level and then, we can tailor our plans accordingly.” She says any new or established patients who make an appointment with her the week of August 15-19 will be able to have Dr. Rosh look at their skin through the camera.
Dr. Rosh came home to the Tampa Bay area with her husband, Dr. Corey Reeves, and their baby daughter after completing a fellowship and practicing at Duke University in Durham, NC. Now, their daughter is a toddler and the couple has a baby boy on the way.
She says she’ll take a few weeks off this fall, so her schedule is very full leading up to her maternity leave, and her intention is to start performing surgeries again in October.
Dr. Rosh earned her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Anthropology and Biomedical Sciences from USF.
She then completed her ophthalmology residency at the USF Eye Institute and an oculofacial and reconstructive fellowship at the Duke Eye Center. She is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Great Results
Lupi Butler attended the Grand Opening of Dr. Rosh’s office last year. She had been thinking about having a procedure done on her eyes and even had consultations with specialists, but hadn’t found the right doctor yet.
However, that changed when she met Dr. Rosh. “She made me feel so comfortable,” Lupi says. “I knew right away I wanted her to be my doctor.”
Last September, Lupi had a procedure to lift her upper and lower eyelids.
Lupi also appreciates that Dr. Rosh makes herself available to her patients.
Lupi says she recommends Dr. Rosh to all of her friends.
Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves’ Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute is located in the same building as the Medi-Weightloss Center at 24420 S.R. 54 in Lutz. For appointments and more information, including current specials, see the ad on page 30, call (813) 3030123 or visit DoctorRosh.com.
By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN Correspondent
The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center started as a way for people to connect virtually online during the pandemic in December 2020.
Once it was safe to do so, Bishop Carl R. Curry — who prefers to go by “Bishop Carl” and is the independent Pastor of the church — says, “God presented the opportunity,” and The Cathedral began holding services in person on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in the Healing Plaza building next to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. The first service was held on Easter Sunday of this year.
He says the services are “concentrated” to last no more than an hour and 15 minutes, and focus on the Word of God, instead of the big production elements (such as lights and smoke) that are often popular in big churches.
So, at The Cathedral, Bishop Carl says he focuses on “rendering experi-
Bishop Carl Curry, who also is a Chaplain at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, came to Tampa from
New York City with his family and started a new church — The Cathedral of Worship & Praise, located in the Healing Plaza building next to AHWC. (Photos provided by Bishop Carl Curry) ences that are life-changing.”
He says his church is nondenominational, but that he sees all of humanity as the church’s denomination. While many denominations have been created because of disagreements — with some people splitting off to form a new denomination — Bishop Carl is all about unity and, he says, the power of God that comes from the Bible.
“I give people freely what I learned in seminary,” he says. “Sometimes, what you hear from the pulpit is opinion, not rightful interpretation.” Bishop Carl was first ordained as a Senior Pastor 12 years ago in New York City and was consecrated a Bishop in August 2021 by Churches of The Body of Christ Fellowship. He is part of the Joint College of Bishops for the organization, which is a fellowship of believers, rather than a specific denomination. Curry holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Theology from New Life Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, and a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Christian Family Counseling from New Hope Institutional Academy in Amityville, NY. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and is currently working on a M.S. degree program in spiritual care from AdventHealth University in Orlando.
After 40 years of ministry in New York City, Bishop Carl says he and his wife (and Co-Pastor) Yonnicka moved their family to Tampa six years ago because God called them here.
They both took jobs at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel — Yonnicka as a respiratory therapist and Bishop Carl as a Chaplain — and then moved into Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa with their three children — 13-year-old Zidan and 6-yearold twins Mordecai and Aviana.
From their home to their jobs, to church, their entire commute is a total of six minutes.
“All of it happened effortlessly,” Bishop Carl explains. While he wasn’t seeking to move away from New York, he and Yonnicka felt called to the area and to starting a new church here.
The Light & The Pandemic
He says that starting during the Cov-
id-19 pandemic was a way to meet people where they were, even as churches went into lockdown phase and some churches couldn’t survive it.
“We were able to help people deal with what was happening to them on a day-to-day basis,” he says.
Now, he’s bringing people together who are looking for more than just a “ritualistic worshipping of God on a specific day at a specific time.”
He says it’s all about relationships, and letting people know that everyone has value, and that both God and the people at The Cathedral are willing to meet you right where you are. “We’re not called to be perfect or created to be perfect,” says Bishop Carl. “We’re called to be holy.”
Toni is a Wesley Chapel resident who attends church at The Cathedral and asked that we only use her first name.
Toni says she grew up in a church
where she got there early in the morning and often stayed most of the day, but now, many people don’t want to sit in church all day. She says the 11 a.m. time on Sundays is perfect for her and that she likes that the service only lasts for a little more than an hour. “The service is awesome,” she says. “I like the music and I like the preaching. (Bishop Carl is) very articulate, Bishop Carl’s wife and Co-Pastor Yonnicka (left) also is an important part of The Cathedral of Worship & Praise, where everyone seeking the Word of God is always welcome to attend online or in person. very knowledgeable and well-versed in the Word of God.” Bishop Carl’s experience as both a counselor in New York and now as a Chaplain in Wesley Chapel has given him a lot of insight into how people are feeling about the world we live in right now, saying that many are feeling bombarded with local, national and global problems. “There’s a lot of depression and anxiety with the rise in the housing market, inflation, parents feeling disconnected from kids, and kids are feeling disconnected from parents,” he explains. “There’s a lot of separatism going on, and we want to move the mindset and focus onto something greater than ourselves.”
The Cathedral plans to be a voice for unity in the community, having hosted a program in downtown Tampa bringing Christians together to support Ukraine and co-hosting (with Churches of The Body of Christ) an upcoming Voices for Unity Concert (see ad below) on Friday, August 12, 7 p.m. (at the Healing Plaza), calling for people of every denomination to come together as one.
Previously, the church’s online services have been held via Zoom but, beginning in August, they will be live-streamed through a platform called FaithLife. Bishop Carl says links to the live stream will be posted on The Cathedral’s Facebook page, which you can find by searching “The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center” on Facebook.
The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center meets at 2950 Healing Way in Wesley Chapel in the Healing Plaza building on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. For more information, visit TheCathedralofWP.com, email TheCathedralofWP@gmail.com, call (813) 943-9773 or see the ad on page 30 of this issue.
By ISABELLA DOUGLAS Correspondent
Cortnie Roshaune Hordge lives by the motto: life isn’t perfect, but your home and wardrobe can be.
The New Tampa resident is known among her friends and family as being “extra” — from her bright, bold apparel to her contemporary modern home décor. Her passion for fashion and interior design fueled her to create Cort of Appeal, a client-focused fashion styling and interior design business, which she started in October 2021.
Her mission is to bring style to both wardrobes and homes, not only in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities, but also nationwide.
Cort of Appeal derives from Hordge’s first name and her goal to appeal to her clients’ fashion and interior design expectations.
“Fashion is really about how you feel and how you want to feel in the clothes or in the environment that you’re in,” she says.
Her online business is made up of two parts: Cort Fashion and Cort Design. She also has created a shop called Cort’s Curvy Closet for curvy women, where new and gently used apparel from her own wardrobe can be purchased.
From updating a client’s wardrobe to on-call styling assistance, Hordge says Fashion Cort is for bringing out the beauty in her clients.
Treesa Battles, another New Tampa resident and creative consultant at Cort of Appeal, said both the business and Hordge’s apparel are distinctive and fashionable.
“She has really unique pieces, very
Cortnie Roshaune Hordge of Cort of Appeal gave one of her clients “the glam I didn’t know I needed” with her design of the living room and kitchen above. (Photos courtesy of Cortnie Hordge) bold pieces, very bright, vibrant pieces and it’s really what folks are looking for when they are fashion forward,” Battles says. Hordge’s mom, Natalie Simmons, inspired her daughter to always look her best. Simmons says she is proud of her daughter’s accomplishments and knows the business will excel because of her daughter’s love for beauty and her attention to every detail.
Your Home, Your Personality
Hordge’s business is best known, however, for its interior design consultations. From homes to offices, Cort Design works with clients — virtually or in-person — to create a personality for each space, and works with wholesalers for home décor items she thinks will fit the vibe she is shooting for to make her clients happy.
“There’s a lot of cohesion, there’s a good vibe and energy feel from what she puts together,” Da’na Langford of the Village of Healing Center (a health care center in Cleveland, OH), one of her clients, says. “It’s very beautiful, it’s unique, it stands out. It looks very modernized and professional…there’s a flow to everything.”
Hordge worked virtually with the Village of Healing Center from late December to February of this year to renovate its building’s interior. Langford, the center’s co-founder, hired Hordge to create a space where Black women could feel safe and become better educated about healthcare services.
The Center was designed to showcase
Black history, with photos and descriptions on acrylic signs. Without Hordge, Langford says the space would have had printed photos framed on walls and would lack the emphasis on Black culture.
When Langford hired Hordge to complete the job, she was initially concerned about the interior design being too time consuming. She was pleased to find out she only had to say “yes” or “no,” and Hordge and her team would do the rest.
“She’s very bubbly, professional, down to earth and, if she does not think that something will gel well with what you’re thinking, she will definitely let you know that. And then, we’ll send another option, instead of just saying ‘no,’” Langford says.
Hordge’s favorite interior design is her most recent house project because she was able to convince her client, Neoshia Woodson, to step out of her comfort zone. Woodson hired Cort of Appeal to design her newly purchased home in Wimauma. She wanted to use all of her furniture and elevate her space while still maintaining her budget.
Hordge introduced Woodson to wallpapers and convinced her to have a teal accent wall — additions Woodson was initially unsure about.
Although Hordge’s business currently is primarily online, she still believes in an in-person presence.
New Tampa’s Cortnie Hordge has a knack for designing a new look for you, and your home.
Hordge and her team have attended pop-up shops in Tampa to showcase their fashion and interior design items from her business and will attend another pop-up event on Sunday, August 14, at 200 East Madison St. in Tampa. She also will compete in an event as a stylist at Fashion’s Finest Tampa Bay on Saturday, August 20. Next year, she hopes to open a shop at Wesley Chapel’s KRATE at the Grove container park.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (813) 421-0054, visit CortAppeal.com or see the ad on pg. 40. Cortnie also can be found on Facebook and Instagram by searching @cortappeal.
By JOHN C. COTEY
John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com
Seven Oaks Elementary, John Long Middle School, Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) and the Pinecrest Academy charter school were the only Wesley Chapel schools to earn “A” grades from the Florida Dept. of Education (FDoE), according to the annual results released last month.
Long has never received anything but an A grade, dating back to 2007.
It was the fourth straight year getting an A for Seven Oaks, and third straight for WRH. Pinecrest Academy received a grade for the first time.
As a district, Pasco County Public Schools received a B.
“I’m pleased to see what our schools have accomplished, especially considering the challenges of the past two years,” said Kurt Browning, Pasco’s Superintendent of Schools. “All credit goes to the students, their teachers, and all the administrators who have worked so hard. Now that we have the test scores and school grades, our teachers and administrators are laser focused on the data and planning for greater accomplishments next year.” — JCC
Kirkland Ranch Academy Of Innovation Is Wesley Chapel’s Newest High School!
Wesley Chapel’s newest high school — the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation (KRAI), which opens this month to 9th and 10th graders for the 2022-23 school year — held its inaugural student orientation, known as the “Navigator Kickoff,” on July 29.
Although we weren’t on hand for the kickoff, we wanted to welcome Wesley Chapel’s fourth high school to the community. Although KRAI isn’t a charter school, it is a Pasco school choice magnet school, and students have to apply for attendance by lottery.
The school, which is located north of the entrance to the Watergrass community (and south of the Innovation Prep K-7 charter school) at 32555 Innovation Dr., off Curley Rd., “was built to provide students with an educational opportunity unlike any other,” according to its website (krai.pasco.k12.fl.us). Every year after this year’s inaugural school year, KRAI will add a grade level until becoming a full-fledged 9-12 high school.
Kirkland Ranch offers ten in-demand and innovative programs structured to include an integrated business curriculum that offers a diverse learning experience focused on helping students develop dynamic skillsets that lead to high-paying careers. The ten programs are: Automotive (Diesel), Biomedical Sciences, Building Trades & Construction Technology, Cybersecurity, Digital Media, Electricity, Engineering & Applied Robotics, Patient Care Technology and Welding Technology Fundamentals. If you want to be ready for college, career, and life right out of high school, KRAI is the place to be!
KRAI’s principal is DeeDee Johnson (with hard hat, above), who previously was the principal at Wesley Chapel High and most recently Pasco Middle School in Dade City, before transitioning to oversee the opening of KRAI.
“I am most excited about the opportunities that it’s going to bring students in the District,” she says, “whether it’s college, career, or preparing them for life.”
She emphasizes that while the school can provide a pathway to an in-demand, high-paying job right after high school, it’s also a great choice for college-focused students.
“There are industry certifications, but also Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses,” says Johnson. “It’s going to give students a leg up by having connections with business and community partners.”
Patel Elementary Charter School In Temple Terrace Also Opening For 2022-23
Although it is located at least 20-30 minutes south of Wesley Chapel, off the Fowler Ave. exit of I-75 in Temple Terrace, the opening of Kiran C. Patel Elementary for the 2022-23 school year also represents a unique opportunity for students in our area.
The new 650-student Patel Elementary, a Hillsborough County charter school which held its official ribbon cutting (photo above) on July 25, is on the same Dr. Kiran C. Patel Campus for Innovative Learning as Patel High (with 600 students) and the Terrace Community Middle School (660 students). The event was attended by many local and state dignitaries, including U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who sent a video of congratulations.
At the ribbon-cutting event, Patel Elementary co-founder Ashok (Ash) Bagdy introduced Dr. Patel (above, right) as the new school’s “founder, visionary and benefactor” and a “global humanitarian who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars for education, health care, arts and culture in North America, Asia and Africa.”
When Ash finished his introduction, Dr. Patel thanked his own parents for ensuring that he had a great education and said his goal has been to do the same for students in his native India, as well as in Africa and the U.S. He said that Patel Elementary, whose mascot is the Pioneers, is based on the principle that, “in the early, formative years, if you don’t provide the right environment then you know for sure you’ve missed the boat.”
Dr. Patel also touted the importance of kids being able to complete their education “from elementary through high school at one location. That is an important choice that we can now offer to every one of our (elementary) students.”
Ashley Galfond (center right photo), the Patel Elementary principal who spent eight years as an assistant principal in Hillsborough public schools (most recently at Chiles Elementary in Tampa Palms), spoke of her excitement to open Patel with 288 students in grades K-2.
“The strategic plan of beginning small allows us to build the family culture here at our school. Each year, we will add six new classes of kindergartners and, before you know it, these incoming second graders will become fifth graders and we’ll have a full K-5 school.”
Best of all, she said, during the school’s Open Houses, “the children have been asking the questions and zipping from room to room, imagining their lives as Pioneers.”
For more information about Patel Elementary (10739 Raulerson Ranch Rd.), see the ad on pg. 35, call (813) 444-0660 or visit PatelElementary.org. — Gary Nager, with photos by Charmaine George
By JOHN C. COTEY
John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com
Wesley Chapel resident Anthony Becht apparently smells what “The Rock” is cooking up.
Becht, who has been an assistant coach at Wiregrass Ranch High the past few years while his son Rocco, who is now at Iowa State, was starting at quarterback, has been named the new head coach of the St. Louis franchise in the revamped XFL. The league is co-owned by famous wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Becht is familiar to St. Louis fans, having played a full season at tight end in 2008 with the St. Louis Rams.
The three seasons before that, he
Long-time Wesley Chapel resident Anthony Becht has been named the head coach of the new St. Louis team in the revamped XFL. Becht, a TV analyst and former coach at Wiregrass Ranch High, played three seasons at tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
(Photo credits: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (left) and Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images (right). played for the Tampa Bay Bucs. Becht, the 27th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, is known locally for his work as a television analyst, as well as for the youth football camp he has hosted in Wesley Chapel.
Becht’s staff will have a Tampa Bay feel to it. St. Louis’s offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski played quarterback for the Bucs in 2006 and 2007, and defensive coordinator Donnie Abraham was a Bucs’ defensive back from 1996-2001. “I love this staff, and I’m expecting to add some more top guys,” Becht told the Dispatch. “I know I’m not the smartest guy on the staff, which is great because by surrounding myself with outstanding people, I know I can learn and I can keep getting better.” This will be the third try for the XFL, which played one season in 2001 and then had its comeback season in 2020 cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. St. Louis didn’t have a team in the 2001 league, but in 2020, the team was called the Battlehawks — teams haven’t been assigned nicknames or mascots yet — and were one of the top drawing teams in the XFL. The XFL, which starts up next February and will have its games shown on ABC-TV and ESPN, will have teams in Arlington, Houston and San Antonio, as well as Orlando, Florida, Las Vegas, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
By JOHN C. COTEY
John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com
When Wesley Chapel High (WCH) volleyball coach Brittany Collison looks at this season’s roster, it’s hard not to dream big.
Not only did the Wildcats put together their best record, 19-5, in the school’s history last year, they won their first District title in 20 years, won two Regional playoff games for the first time ever and fell just one victory short of a trip to the State Final Four.
And this year’s roster? Well, it looks mighty familiar.
Eight of the 12 players return from last year’s squad, including arguably the best player in school history in senior outside hitter Chloe Danielson. The 6-foot Danielson had a school-record 375 kills in 2021, and was named Pasco County’s Player of the Year.
She had plenty of help, however.
Juniors Lizzy Ekechi and Grace Korta each had more than 100 kills, and sophomore Emily Teets had 72. Senior Jenna Ly led the team in service aces and assists and junior Brooke Ashkenase led
(L.-r.) Brooke Ashkenase (2021 leader in digs), Chloe Danielson (kills) and Jenna Ly (assists) all return this season for Wesley Chapel High, a Region finalist last year. (Photo: Mike Bitting) in digs and serves received.
The Wildcats have added some new firepower as well. Transfer Emma Letourneau, a 5-foot-11 junior, will make the WCH attack that much more explosive, after leading Pasco High with 198 kills last season.
In prepping for 2022, Collison says she has seen a lot of good signs that the Wildcats could make more history. The taste of coming so close last year has lingered throughout the offseason. Collison said Korta and Ekechi have both grown as players, and Teets, Ly and Ashkenase have both markedly improved. “When we came back for open gym this summer, and I saw how everyone had improved, I was like, ‘Wow, we’re going to be good,’” the coach said. The Wildcats were traditionally one of the worst teams in Pasco County until Collison was hired in 2017. Before that, WCH had cycled through six different coaches the previous eight years.
However, Collison didn’t have immediate success. Her first two seasons at Wesley Chapel, her teams were 10-32.
Gradually, the ‘Cats started getting some standout players, starting with Jordan and Chloe Danielson. The sisters’ first season together was 2019-20, and they led WCH to a 14-11 season, the first time the program had ever registered double-digit wins. The following season, the Wildcats were 17-6 and went to the Regional playoffs for the first time since 2003, as the sisters combined for 400 kills.
Even though Jordan graduated in 2021, Collison was able to continue building her team around Chloe, thanks in part to the growth of club volleyball, which provides playing and training yearround. She says everyone on her team is a member of a club somewhere and competes year-round.
Collison has beefed up the schedule as well this year, with two high-level tournaments, in the hopes that if her team reaches the Region final again, it will be more battle-tested than it was in 2021.
“The majority of the team are kids that are go-getters, that want to get better,” she says. “They want to prove this year that this hasn’t just been a lucky two years in a row. Our goal is to win Districts first, but because we came so close last
year, we are definitely looking at the State final four this season.”
Meanwhile, Cypress Creek High (CCH) also is looking for another good season. Last year, the Coyotes went 17-6, with half of those losses to Wesley Chapel. CCH made it to last year’s Class 5A, District 5 final before falling to the Wildcats, but as runner-up, still advanced to the Region quarterfinals.
Unlike WCH, however, almost half of the Coyotes’ roster has graduated, including most of their statistical leaders. The top returners are expected to be kills and blocks leader Sadie Walker, a junior, and setter and libero Laney Robinson.
At Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), the Bulls are coming off a 9-10 season but have one of the best all-around players in Pasco County in junior outside hitter Haley Strawser.
Strawser had 191 kills and 54 aces to lead the team in 2021, and was second in blocks and digs and third in assists.
Gianna Ginesin, Victoria Vizciano and Delaney Moran all played key roles for the Bulls last season and are expected to return this season.
Volleyball season tips off Aug. 22, when WCH plays at Zephyrhills at 7:30 p.m. CCH plays at Pasco High at 7 p.m. on Aug. 23, and WRH hosts Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24. For schedules and stats, visit MaxPreps.com and search for each school.
By GARY NAGER
Photos by Charmaine George
From the time that it opened in 2020, Bubba’s 33, the elevated sports bar and restaurant concept from your friends at (and located next to) Texas Roadhouse off S.R. 56, has been a popular place with New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents for its great food and craft cocktails at very fair prices and its TVs-everywhere sports bar feel. It also offers great music video channels to keep everyone upbeat and having fun.
Bubba’s is a place for everyone from rabid adult NFL and NHL fans to families with young children and the made-from-scratch menu literally offers something for everyone.
Let’s Talk Food First!
The menu at Bubba’s hasn’t changed much since it first opened but that’s probably because so many of the long-time offerings have proven to be so popular.
For “Party Starters,” the Big O’Rings (photo below right) are always sliced fresh, hand-battered and fried crisp, served with the delectable Bubba’s sauce (which is like a cross between thousand island dressing and remoulade sauce). Photographer Charmaine George also loves the Shotgun Shrimp, which are lightly breaded shrimp topped with a creamy, spicy sauce and topped with green onions that the menu says, “You won’t want to share.”
Other Party Starters include Crooked Fried Cheese, Layered Cheese Fries, a Chorizo sausage Queso Dip and Crispy Fried Pickles.
Bubba’s also has great wings, available with eight different sauces and two different dry seasonings.
Salad and “Seinfeld” fans have to love “The Big Salad,” which is, like, “a really big salad with a lot of stuff in it.” There also are Italian Chopped, Grilled Chicken (or Chicken Tender), Salmon and Kale Quinoa salads on the menu, but Jannah and I love to just get a side salad with our meals, with Bubba’s zesty balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Our favorite items on the “Hearty Dinners” menu include the Southern Fried Chicken breast and garlic mashed potatoes (I get the creamy white gravy on the side), the California Chicken (grilled chicken topped with avocado, pico de gallo and jack cheese; we also order the honey lime sauce on the side) and the two Texas Roadhouse-quality ribeye steaks — the Grilled 12-oz. Ribeye and the Signature 14-oz. Ribeye shown above right, which is marinated in a Starbucks® espresso signature blend. Among the many sides are great sweet potato fries, steamed broccoli and mac n’cheese. Great Sandwiches!
Even Bubba’s 33’s Hand-Crafted Sandwiches are special, from the Philly Cheesesteak and Chicken Phillys to the Fried Fish (cod) sandwich (left), which is fried in a housemade Samuel Adams® Boston Lager batter.
Mine and Jannah’s favorite burgers at Bubba’s are the Classic Cheeseburg(Clockwise on this page) The Shotgun Shrimp, Signature Ribeye steak, Big O’Rings and Fried
Fish sandwich are some of our favorite menu items at Bubba’s 33 off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel er (we add crispy bacon to it) and the bacon grind bacon cheeseburger. We prefer the Classic because it’s one thick patty, instead of the twopatty bacon grind burgers.
Charmaine’s favorite is the Bacon Guacamole burger (with sweet potato fries) on the next page. She says the guacamole and pepper jack cheese are perfect complements to the crispy bacon.
Italian Specialties!
One of the things that sets Bubba’s 33 apart from most other sports bars/restaurants is its variety of Italian specialties, from Signature Pastas (including favorites like layered Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan Pasta), as well as a huge variety of Homemade, Stone-Baked Pizzas.
Although, as a native New Yawka, I can’t call the pizzas “true NY style,” I will say that the crusts are always crispy, whether you get the Buffalo chicken, the “Dickie V” (named for sportscaster and former college basketball coach Dick Vitale, it combines Italian sausage, cherry peppers, fresh basil, grated parmesan and a garlic buttered crust. “It’s awesome, baby!”), or my current favorite, the “Meaty Meaty” (with bacon, homemade Italian sausage and pepperoni; photo at the top of the next page). There are even “Artisan” options like Goat Cheese Arugula and Italian Margherita pizzas.
And, while I can’t call this a truly Italian
pasta dish, our favorite pasta option may be the Chicken & Bacon Mac N’ Cheese (bottom photo), which features a blend of five cheeses, grated parmesan and sprinkled with bread crumbs. Music Bingo!
On our most recent visit, Jannah and I attended Bubba’s 33’s super-fun “Music Bingo Tuesday” event. It starts at 7 p.m., is free to enter and you can win from gift certificates for $5-$20 off and other swag. But honestly, it’s not about the prizes.
Your host, Jerry, gives out Bingo cards with four games on them and each game has a theme (“Guys & Girls,” “Live, Love & Hate,” etc.). Everyone has all of each game’s songs on their cards, but you have to mark them when they are played and there are multiple ways (across, up & down, 4 corners, etc.) to win. You just have to be the first to yell “Bingo” when you complete each way to win. The really fun thing about it is that even if you don’t know all of the songs yourself, no one minds telling you, since no one has the same order of the songs on their cards.
In other words, if you don’t “get” it, go try it!
Bubba’s 33 also has Monday Madness ($8.99 for almost any burger) and Tuesday Pizza Night (when any 12” pizza is just $10.99) specials.
Bubba’s 33 is located at 26340 Silver Maple Pkwy. It is open every day for lunch & dinner. For more info, call (813) 5225090, visit Bubbas33.com or see the ad on pg. 44 for a Free Appetizer with Purchase of Any Entrée (dine-in or take-out). The coupon is valid Mon.-Thur. only and only one offer available per table or per order.
