FISHHAWK PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT TO HONOR LOCAL GIRL FIGHTING LEUKEMIA

On Saturday, February 11, FishHawk will host its first pickleball tournament at the Hawk Park Clubhouse. Ceci’s Pickleball Tournament will support 7-year-old Ceci, who is fighting leukemia. All proceeds from the tournament will go toward Ceci’s college fund, to support the bright future of this wonderful girl once she’s beaten this horrific illness.

This will be a doubles competition and will be split into two segments, a group for those 18 years old and under and a group for adults. In addition to the tournament, there will also be an auction beginning on Saturday, February 4, with the winners to be announced on February 11. To learn more, please follow ‘Ceci’s Pickleball Tournament’ on Facebook and Instagram.

The event is being hosted by Newsome High School’s Pickleball Club and Operation Lotus. Even in the very earliest stages of this event, it has been astounding to watch the community come together in support of Ceci.

Dave Dietz Wins Both Vfw Post 6287 And Vfw District 12 Jrotc Instructor Of The Year

By Dave Marshall

Sponsorships are available as well, which include:

• Your name on a banner for $50.

• A logo on a shirt and recognition on social media for $100.

• A logo on a shirt and recognition on a banner as well as social media for $200.

Ceci loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. Please show your support for this wonderful young lady and her fight against leukemia, whether it is through participating in the tournament, donating or sponsoring — whatever it is you can do to show Ceci your support.

The Hawk Park Clubhouse is located at 5702 Hawkpark Blvd. in Lithia. Ceci’s Pickleball Tournament starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until 2 p.m.

To register and purchase tickets, donate or sponsor, please visit the tournament’s Eventbrite page by scanning the QR code placed here or by going to its webpage at www.eventbrite.com/e/cecis-pickleball-tournament-tickets-499117081627.

Local FishHawk resident and senior Army instructor at Lennard High School, LTC (R) Dave Dietz was recently celebrated on January 7 after receiving the awards for both VFW Post 6287 (Ruskin) JROTC Instructor of the Year and VFW District 12 (Hillsborough County) JROTC Instructor of the Year. Held at 12 Noon at the VFW Post 6287, LTC (R) Dietz expressed his honor at being able to accept such awards with both his daughter, Kaedynce, and son, Kameron, by his side.

“Outside being humbled for these awards, it’s also just as special to represent Lennard High School along with having my son and daughter share that moment with me,” said LTC (R) Dietz.

LTC (R) Dietz’s story begins with his 27-year-long service in the military where he began as a combat engineer. Transferring over to the intelligence community, he was then stationed at MacDill Air Force Base for six years before retiring from the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) on the counter-terrorism team in November 2020. Closely following his retirement, he began his instruction as a senior Army instructor at Sumner High School before transferring to Lennard High School, where he has been teaching for the past four months.

Among his numerous daily duties, running the Raiders Program for Junior Reserve Ofcers’ Training Corps (JROTC) students remains one of his chief commitments.

By Madeline Gardner

Meeting every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday before school starts, students involved complete physical tasks such as running 3 miles, cross-fit training and practicing basic Army fitness training. This is done in preparation for a Raider Competition, or ‘Raider,’ which is an athletic event held across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties where LTC (R) Dietz’s cadets can compete against members from other schools.

“My Raiders get taught a lot of stuf about physical fitness, how to take care of your body and then how to compete at the next level,” said LTC (R) Dietz.

And while he has been involved with JROTC operations for only two years now, LTC (R) Dietz strives to leave a lasting impact on the kids involved in this program. JROTC is an organization entirely based around motivating young people to pursue pathways to becoming better citizens while remaining on track to graduate, granting them access to help and resources pertaining to higher education, as well as entry into the military. Citing it as one of the largest character development and citizenship programs in the world, LTC (R) Dietz makes it his mission to guide his 150 cadets on the right path.

“Once out of high school, life’s upon them, so we love to prepare them before they get out the door. That’s probably one of the bigger rewards,” said LTC (R) Dietz.