The Decade of the 1990’s at ZHS

The World Wide Web was born in 1992, launching Americans to communicate via email and use the web for work and leisure. By 1994, 3 million people were online. The 1990s were also known as the Merger Decade with changes in how the country did business. Issues of interest were health care, social security reform, and gun control which were debated during the whole decade. The community of Zephyrhills celebrated its fifth new school, Chester Taylor Elementary in 1997—that served to continue the tradition which was started in 1910.

At ZHS there was a great deal of debate over a variety of issues. News archives show some particular protest debate topics: the location of ZHS graduation in 1990, a petition and walk-out by 600 students on the use of polystyrene by the ZHS lunchroom and its effect on the environment and more world awareness with college-level courses at the school.>

The 1990 graduation-debate centered on the graduating class wishing to have an outdoor commencement in the football stadium. The principal, Larry Robison, had given a decree that this would not be considered and in response, the Valedictorian (and Class President), Tommy Gregory spearheaded a response that included Tampa Tribune editorials and debate which overshadowed the graduation itself. Tommy spoke to the school board on behalf of the class, and the Tribune said of his presentation, “his articulate presentation must have given School Board members satisfaction. Now school officials ought to give him and the other 214 graduating seniors at Zephyrhills High some satisfaction—honor their request to have graduation ceremonies at the football stadium.”
Gregory said in his written editorial:

Another ZHS protest in June 1990 led by student, Derek Harmeson, illustrates a growing concern for the environment. Some 180 ZHS students gathered at the ZHS flagpole to protest the use of polystyrene lunch trays in the ZHS cafeteria…and the organizer, Derek, pointed out with pride the diversity of the ZHS protesters and their cause…

The News reported that some ZHS teachers who grew up in the civil disobedience days of the 60s backed the protest…and rescheduled tests in support of the student’s efforts as well.
   Harmeson pointed out the subgroups of ZHS in his appeal that the protection of the environment was coming from all factions, but it is noteworthy in retrospect that ZHS was truly becoming a very diverse community of students with a growing Hispanic population and a much more multi-cultural population. The World Wide Web was providing awareness and a greater level of tolerance and acceptance during the 1990s as well.

A particular innovation in clubs was the institution of a formal mock trial program, Teen Court, initiated with the Pasco County State’s Attorney’s Office in which ZHS students were trained on the judicial system and actually made recommendations on the client’s volunteer basis for sentencing/consequences of actual juvenile cases in the court system. The first mock trial group in 1999 was composed of ZHS students, Sumico Austin, Jackie Butler, June Dawson, Matt McLaughlin, Josh Proctor, Princess Roshell, Lakia Stewart and Danny Wenhold.  The then State Attorney Ms. Babb spear-headed the training and advocated with county agencies for funding; she later became Judge Linda Babb, and continued to be an activist for youth issues.

Ryan Pickett was without a doubt the central figure of the decade at ZHS in Sports. The 1998 All-Sun Coast Defensive Player of The Year, Ryan was selected for the USA Today’s High School All-American Football Team which earned him the right to play in their Florida-Georgia All-Star Game. The USA Today and Parade Magazine predicted he would dominate his opponents at this 14th annual Florida-Georgia game on June 20th at the Georgia Dome and he in fact did just that—with nine tackles, a sack, two quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery. Ryan was rated by some recruiting services as the best defensive linemen in the country. He was also well-thought-of by his graduating class and when his name was announced at the 1998 graduation, the entire senior class did a “wave” to honor him when he was presented his diploma. Ryan chose to become an Ohio State Buckeye out of ZHS, and after playing for Ohio State, Ryan joined the Green Bay Packers and then the St. Louis Rams. ZHS was thrilled when the ZHS protégé, Ryan Pickett played in the Super Bowl in 2002.

Some other ZHS football stars of the decade were Mike Barber, running back, who was a two time All-Sunshine Athletic Conference Selection who signed with North Dakota in 1997; Brett Cimorelli, a star throughout his ZHS career who graduated in 2000 and was a star on the FSU Seminole team throughout college and ZHS football player, Tommy McLeod, recruited by Yale in 1992.

A near perfect season in ZHS football in 1995 made school history. At the Gulf High game in November 1995, reporter Roger Mills said in the St. Pete Times,

By the 1990s, Title IX had made a true impact on girl’s sports at ZHS and several girls made their mark.  Four outstanding ZHS girl’s golfers made state and national headlines. Erin O’Neil dominated the golf arena all four years of high school—second in the state golf tournament in May of 1991, and starring consistently as a top player until her graduation  from ZHS in 1993 (she took advantage of the NCAA’s early signing in November 1992 at University of Georgia, the nations’ second ranked division 1 women’s golf program). Erin qualified for the grand slam event of the US Women’s Open in 1994. Other noteworthy ZHS girl golfers were Tracy Negoshian and Robyn Rinaldo. Tracy was district runner up in the All-Sunshine Conference Golf Match in 1998. Robyn Rinaldo who was tied for the 21st place ranking in 1995 by Golf Week Magazine and signed with Mississippi State. Tracy Negoshian, 1999, was also widely acclaimed as a girl golfer.

In ZHS Soccer, Erin Dodd was named to the Class 4A all state soccer team in 1997 and signed with the University of Memphis. Erin scored a school record of 147 career goals while at ZHS. ZHS Volleyball in 1998 was exceptional and boasted the 4A District 8 Title. A ZHS athlete, Lisa Cherry, earned an appointment to the Air Force Academy in 1992.

ZHS got its first swim team in 1997 with teacher, Shannon Smith Mathews, a former ZHS grad, coaching the swimmers and using the pool on the Hercules Aquatic Center area, adjoining the school (once owned by the school board). The 1996 wrestling team was the district champion and played in the state meet. By 1999, the swim team applauded Jeff Borders as the State Meet Qualifier in the 100 Butterfly.

Intellectually ZHS seemed to be excelling in science if stars were any indication. ZHS’s Christine Rinck went to the 43rd fair and took fourth place in biochemistry in Nashville (her project was on how plant hormones can counteract the effect of reduced light.) Gregg Hilferding also qualified for the International Science and Engineering Fair in May 1996 with his project. The school newspaper, now the Bulldogger, was named the best high school newspaper in Pasco by the Pasco Times and the 1996 Valedictorian, Chut Sobutmai, praised the school publication that had evolved through many namings and formats from the early days of ZHS.  

Advanced Placement courses which began the decade before were now mainstays for college bound students. The ZHS pioneers were Don Woods, AP Biology; Dale Palmer, AP Government/Economics; and Gail Reynolds, AP Literature; all three teachers being revered by their students. State universities were now requiring a formula-driven admittance in which a certain array of AP courses had to be taken to be competitive for college admission, and ZHS was rising to the occasion. AP classes, originated by the College Board, were in fact, college-level courses taken during the school day on campus. ZHS also entered into an agreement with Pasco Hernando Community College for students to earn credit in a program known as Dual Enrollment.

Vocational classes diminished in numbers during the decade but some additional options such as auto-mechanics and ROTC were added. Numerous business partnerships re-emerged in this decade and manifested themselves in scholarship projects and recognition programs such as the Chamber of Commerce Student of the Month and others. ZHS guidance counselor, Elise Hanna, announced that the 1997 graduating class had received over $800,000 in scholarship monies with $300,000 coming from local clubs, organizations and businesses.

This was the era of multiple valedictorians and salutatorians with numerous ties in the academic rankings at the top of the class. Noteworthy of these shared honors were the 1993 Vals who were identical twins, Monu Bedi and Sonu Bedi. Always witty, the two presented their graduation speech as a good natured debate of competitive qualifications at the June 1993 Commencement. The decade of exploring ideas and expressing viewpoints is certainly reflected in hometown Monu and Sonu. Monu become a JAG attorney and spoke at the 2005 ZHS honors ceremony as an alum about his experiences.  Sonu, also an attorney, teaches law at Dartmouth; both speak of pride about their ZHS roots!

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1999

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times
The following students from Zephyrhills High School were named Commended Students in the 1999 Merit Scholarship Program: Nikolas Demosthenous, Margaret McCleland and Rusty Wagner. Each placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1-million who entered the program by taking the PSAT.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, June 16, 1999
The Withlacoochee River Electric Educational Foundation has awarded 87 scholarships to high school seniors in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. The following east and central Pasco students were named winners:
Land O'Lakes High: Rachell Fenstamaker, Vanessa Jacko, Marjoree Kurtright, Melissa Pflugh, Michelle Roberts, and Charlyn Vazquez. Pasco High: Michael Clark, Elicia Cefalo-Cox, John Grant, Kristine Jensen, Weylin Riley, and Michael Schofield. Zephyrhills High: Kristen Fields, James Hoyle, Jose Perez, Christopher Poe, Allison Powell, Angela Walters.

Special Recognition, Bulldog Beacon Newsletter of Zephyrhills High School, Fall Edition, 1998
Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Month”
Mamie Wise was named Citizen of the Month for August 1998 and Heather Avinger for September 1998.
Commended Students—1999 Merit Program
Nikolas Demonthenous, Margaret McCleland and Rusty Wagner have been named Commended Students in the 1999 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation which conducts the program will be presented by the principal of these scholastically talented seniors.
Congratulations to recently elected freshman class officers: Richard Kazbour, President; Cynthia Griffin, Vice President; Shenna Rosensweig, Secretary; and Ashley Parsons, Treasurer.

Overflow Crowd Has Cheers for Zephyrhills Series by Chase Squires, St. Petersburg Times, June 6, 1999, Section: Pasco Times
 With an eye to the future and a wistful glance at the past, the 303 members of Zephyrhills High School's graduating class hugged, cried and cheered their way through a rollicking commencement ceremony Friday. Friends, family and schoolmates overflowed the gymnasium, standing in the aisles, packing shoulder to shoulder in the bleachers and finally cramming into a commons area outside the gym to watch on video monitors. The crowd, estimated at well over 4,000, was likely the largest ever to attend graduation, a school spokesman said.
Preparing to take their place in the world, graduating seniors urged classmates to tackle every challenge and strive for every goal, but also to remember friends and family and a hometown in Pasco County.
In separate addresses, co-salutatorians Laurie Buccinna and Teresa Norris looked back on their voyages through childhood and grade school and looked forward to the changes ahead.
"Our lives, up until now, have been dictated by our parents and society," Buccinna said. "As we leave Zephyrhills High School this evening, we leave behind the security we have become accustomed to."
Norris looked to the future. "Adjusting is a part of learning and growth," she said. "Only you can limit how far you will go. . . . Aim for the stars."
Valedictorian Thomas Renc predicted big things.
"Who's to say a future president or the next Bill Gates isn't sitting here in this building?" he asked. "Nobody is."
Senior Allison Powell brought some parents to tears, and perhaps a few fellow graduates, with her guitar rendition of the popular song I Will Remember You, followed by classmate Janda Prescott's personal take on the bittersweet evening, a song called Remember she co-wrote with her older brother.
"I was trying to think of an appropriate song to sing, but I couldn't find anything to express totally how I felt, something to sum up high school," Prescott said before the ceremony. "You know how sometimes, when you hear a song it makes you really remember something? That's what I was looking for." The haunting refrain echoed through the gym: "I remember, walking down the hallways. I remember, dancing at the parties. I remember how it felt, on our last day at school. And all the dreams that we shared, I remember them, too."
The class also heard words of inspiration from graduates John Newcombe and Nikolas Demosthenous and an address from class President Amanda Linville, who urged her classmates to "Be happy, be successful and embrace a positive attitude."
For nearly 40 minutes, graduates were called up to the stage to shake hands with principal James Davis and accept a diploma. Parents and friends shouted congratulations. They whistled and clapped. Someone shouted for Jessica. Someone waved a sign proclaiming herself "Mindy's Mom." Someone honked an air horn.
Finally, at the end of the alphabet, Chip Matthew Zeller crossed the stage and turned his tassel to mark the transition. And he pumped his fist in the air for the class of 1999.

Excellence In Academics Series, St. Petersburg Times, June 9, 1999, Section: Pasco Times
 The following students were honored at the second annual Tampa Tribune/Outback Steakhouse Excellence in Academics Award Banquet on May 18 at Saint Leo College: Nicole Klesmit from Gulf High School was named winner of the Lori Szmytkowski Memorial Scholarship.  Michelle Brennan of Ridgewood High School and Barry Miller of River Ridge High School were named winners of the Marlow Allied Health Scholarship. Jaime Fimiani of Hudson High School was named winner of the Tampa Tribune Scholar Athlete Award.
Malissa Strozewski of Zephyrhills High School was named winner of the Dr. H.T. Lykes Memorial Scholarship.
Pride Awards went to: Paul Pollack (Gulf High), Susan Yacht (Ridgewood High), Javier Lopez-Molina (River Ridge High), Anne Karpay (Land O'Lakes High), and Amanda Kennedy (Gulf High).
Outstanding Student Awards went to: Overall Winner: Bryan Hinmon (River Ridge High), Amanda Kennedy (Gulf High), Thomas Caron (Hudson High), Heidi Taylor (Ridgewood High); Matthew Winter (Zephyrhills High), Alvin Jones (Land O'Lakes High), Norman Graham Jr. (Pasco High).
National Merit Scholar Awards went to: Finalists: Amanda Kennedy (Gulf High); Paul Pollack (Gulf High), Kai Bernal (Land O'Lakes High), Nicole Udovich (River Ridge High). Commended: Ryan Martin (Gulf High), Crystal Jones (Hudson High), Daniel Brooks (Land O'Lakes High), Jamie Mandell (Land O'Lakes High), Don Poyssick (Land O'Lakes High), Andrew Ford (Ridgewood High), Yan Yan Ho (Ridgewood High), Jason Burkett (Ridgewood High), Susan Yacht (Ridgewood High), Daniel Strand (River Ridge High), Heather Solberg (River Ridge High), Javier Lopez-Molina (River Ridge High), Jennifer Clayton (River Ridge High), John Wagner (Zephyrhills High), Margaret McCleland (Zephyrhills High), Nicholas Demosthenous (Zephyrhills High).
Salutatorian Awards: Amanda Kennedy (Gulf High), Kingsely Lau (Hudson High), Kai Bernal (Land O'Lakes High), Lauren Daley (Pasco High), Stephanie Vratsolis (Ridgewood High), Nicole Udovich (River Ridge High), Lauri Buccinna (Zephyrhills High), Teresa Norris (Zephyrhills High).
Valedictorian Awards: Paul Pollack (Gulf High), Thomas Caron (Hudson High), Crystal Jones (Hudson High), Anne Karpay (Land O'Lakes High), Justin Sevier (Ridgewood High), Javier Lopez-Molina (River Ridge High), Valerie Futch (Pasco High), Kyle Jory (Pasco High), Thomas Renc (Zephyrhills High).

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, May 5, 1999
Zephyrhills High School students, Michael Pittman and Sara Morphew, have been named as this year's Boys and Girls State delegates. Michael and Sara, who were selected for exhibiting outstanding citizenship and community involvement, will represent their school at a comprehensive one-week course in state and local government in Tallahassee. Michael was also named student of the month at Zephyrhills High School. Food and nutrition assistant Darlene Whipper was selected as SRP of the Month. Biology instructor Don Woods was honored as teacher of the month.
The following students on the Zephyrhills High School Mock Trial Team were named commended students for their dedication during the past five months: Sumico Austin, Jackie Butler, June Dawson, Matt McLaughlin, Josh Proctor, Princess Roshell, Lakia Stewart and Danny Wenhold. Amanda Linville, Maggie McCleland and Kattie McCleland were given Top Dog referrals for hosting Interact Exchange Students from London and Ontario during the school year.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, March 9, 1999
More than 150 pieces were submitted countywide for the Art of Recycling Competition held at the Pasco County Government Center. Of those, 60 were chosen for display. Robin Baldwin and Evan Lewis from Zephyrhills High School earned $100 for their submissions. Other students with artwork on display are: Tim Burkowski, Jason Clarke, Linsey Conner, Jesse La Cario, Chris Palmer, Jimmy Ramey, Janine Soto, Lauren Stevens and Allison Taylor.
Top Dog recipients from Zephyrhills High are: Aaron Camancho, Trevor First, Katie McCleland, Michael Nelson and Carolyn Young. Each of these students was recognized for exhibiting outstanding citizenship and leadership at their school. Awards in the VFW Voice of Democracy Freedom Essay Contest: First: Mamie Wise, Second: Nikolas Demosthenous, Third: Dean Collura.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, February 9, 1999
Jennifer Cracchiolo was selected as the Student of the Month for January at Zephyrhills High School in recognition of her efforts with the Interact Club's talent show. Mrs. Judy Williams was chosen as the School Related Person of the Month. Business teacher Mrs. Janice MacFerran was selected as the Teacher of the Month. Matt Winter and Rachel Winter were commended students at Zephyrhills High School by social studies teacher Robert Hatfield for donating a recent Sunday to perform at a Hospice house fund-raiser. Other Top Dog recognitions for outstanding citizenship went to: Joseph Baxter, Ramon Cistron, Jessica Crawford, Matt Sandretzky, Crystal Serrano and Christina Scott.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, January 13, 1999
Mamie Wise, of Zephyrhills High School earned second place in the VFW District 12 Voice of Democracy contest Dec. 5 in Brandon. Students earning Honorable Mentions were Becky Lane of Pasco High School and Stephanie M. Maya of Grace Christian School.

by Steve Lee, March 12, 1999, Section: Sports
Tracy Negoshian flirted with disaster by landing in the bunker five times; poor timing and poor shooting against a player she had never beaten. But the Zephyrhills junior came out of the sand clean with just one stroke each time Thursday to defeat Gulf's Lindsey Murvine for the first time in her high school career. Murvine had won the five previous meetings. Negoshian edged Murvine 39-40 at Fox Hollow and two Bulldogs recorded career-low scores for a 195-227 win over the Bucs. That kept Zephyrhills (4-0) unbeaten.
"I didn't deserve to win it," said Murvine, who had a two-stroke lead before dropping back by a stroke after an 8 on the sixth hole. "That's what killed me.”
"She deserved it. She's been wanting to beat me for two years. I give her credit."
After Negoshian and Murvine double-bogeyed the eighth hole, Negoshian snapped the tie with a birdie on the ninth hole while Murvine settled for par 4.
"She drove the first green (for birdie), and it was like, 'Oh, this is going to be a fun day,' “Negoshian said of Murvine's fast start.”I know she hits the ball further than me, and I was like, 'I've just got to keep my head on.' I had a fun day."
Fun also was the operative word for McKenzie Milburn and Andra Howell, who both were all smiles after rounds of 47 and 48, respectively. Milburn had shot 48 and Howell 49 at Meadow Oaks in an earlier win over Hudson.
"I stayed calm today," Milburn said.
Gulf's Hope Kostogiannes tied a modest mark, shooting 68 in her third time ever on a golf course. She joined the Bucs last week and scored a 72 in her first match and a 68 the second time.
Gulf, which has had a full team for the past three matches thanks to the recent addition of Kostogiannes, fell to 1-5.

ZHS Student, Mamie Wise on National Team, Zephyrhills Sun, April 22, 1999
Mamie Wise, a 16 year old Sophomore at Zephyrhills High attended National 4-H Conference last week. Five Florida high school students were selected for this honor during the July 1998 4-H Congress at UF. As a National Conference Delegate, Mamie had the opportunity to apply for the National Technology Corps as well. She received word in September that she was one of 12 teens on the Tech Corps in the United States.

Art Show Winners, St. Petersburg Times, March 10, 1999, Section: Pasco Times
Here are the results of the Pasco County Art Exhibit Show:
Best of Show--Elementary school: Jonathan Williams with "Lawrence and Roge - The Clowns," teacher, Becky Brown from West Zephyrhills Elementary.
Middle school: Felicias Morales with "Body of Work." Art teacher: Kathleen Taylor from Weightman Middle. High school: Ryan Cannon with "Body of Work." Art teacher: Clay Verge from Hudson High School. Primary 2-D: First place: Amy Bixby, St. Anthony School. Second place: Jessica Wright, Sand Pine Elementary. Primary 3-D: First place: Alexis Campisi, Seven Springs Elementary. Second place: Adriana Comap, Seven Springs Elementary. Elementary 3-D: First place: Tiffany Payne, R.B. Cox Elementary. Second place: Russell Young, San Antonio Elementary. Elementary 3-D: First place: Bryan Luft, Denham Oaks Elementary. Second place: Melany Wong, Denham Oaks Elementary.
Middle 2-D: First place: Jeremy Harkins, Weightman Middle. Second place: B.J. Henderson, Pine View Middle. Middle 3-D: First place: Erin O'Grady, Pine View Middle. Second place: Elizabeth Vanbroekhoven, Pine View Middle. High school 2-D: First place: Kristen Orteo, Hudson High. Second place: Todd Black, Zephyrhills High. High school 3-D: First place: Alycia Abrams, Hudson High. Second place: Tina Turner, Zephyrhills High.
 
Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, April 28, 1999, Section: Pasco Times
Zephyrhills High School students recently participated in the District Level FBLA competition in Hernando County. Maegan Buckman placed fifth in Principles and Procedures. Jamie Czeremcha placed fifth in Introduction to Business. Lori Delgado placed second in Job Interview. Cindy Griffin placed third in Principles and Procedures. Amanda Lindner, fifth in Business Communications. Corrinne Rakocy, fifth in Business Calculations. Mamie Wise third in Public Speaking. Michael Pittman and Lori Delgado went on to the state competition in Orlando.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, June 9, 1999
Ten student ambassadors from Pasco County attended the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar held in Orlando. Students from east and central Pasco attending were: Amber Sorensen, Land O'Lakes High; Kelli Pugh, Pasco High; Mamie Wise, Zephyrhills High. Lea Piou of Land O'Lakes High served as a counselor.

Meet Pasco’s Top Graduates, St. Petersburg Times, May 26, 1999, Section: Pasco Times
St. Petersburg Times
Thomas George Renc, this year's valedictorian at Zephyrhills High School, is inspired by Ghandi and Mother Teresa. His favorite quote is, "Know thyself."

Top of the Class, St Petersburg Times, August 26, 1998
The following students have been elected officers of Zephyrhills High School Future Business Leaders of America: president: Robin Gollhardt; vice president: Heidi Hefflelfinger; secretary: Lori Delgado; treasurer: Tye Rogers; reporter: Jamie Czermcha; historian: Wendi Randall.
Math Team members at Zephyrhills High School are: calculus team: Donnie Cortright, Brian Fettig and Rusty Wagner; pre-calculus: Laurie Buccinna, Teresa Norris and Tom Renc; geometry: Michael Glenn, Mike Jones, Mamie Wise and Sarah Henning; algebra II: Rob Alderman, Jerry Mitchell and Jessica Reinagle.

St. Petersburg Times, October 14, 1998
Top Dogs: The following students were named Top Dog Recipients for their assistance during Hurricane Georges: Chad Andrus, Karen Cornelius, Bruce Davis, Robyn Gollhardt, Amanda Linville, Nick Linville, Steven Mann, Amber Moore, Ashley Moore, Mike Moore, Mindy Schultz, Noah Schultz, Malissa Strowzewski, Tiffany Tibbetts, Darren Watts, Jeb Burch, Tristan Meyerink and Caitlin Mica were commended as well for exhibiting outstanding citizenship.

Zephyrhills Football Preview-98, St. Petersburg Times, by Jamal Thalji, September 3, 1998
Bulldogs coach Tom Fisher knows the questions are coming:
How do you replace All-World defensive tackle Ryan Pickett?
How do you replace Pickett, Mitch Theel, Adam Palladino and David Collins from the offensive line?
How do you replace receiving leader Demetrius "Boo Boo" McKay and Teon Black?
For that matter, how do you replace a secondary without McKay, Black and Nick Carroll?
Fisher has heard all those questions and more as the Bulldogs prepare for a campaign without the most talented football class in school history. They led the Bulldogs to a Sunshine Athletic Conference title and a school-record 10 wins in a season that ended in the second-round of the state playoffs.
And then unexpectedly over the summer came this question:
How do you replace quarterback Jaimie Sullivan?
After leading the county in passing last year, Sullivan transferred to rival Pasco, where he is the backup quarterback and starting free safety.
Fisher's answer to all of the above: So what? "You can't worry about what you lose for one reason or another," Fisher said. "You've got to go with what you've got."
In that simple answer lays the secret of Fisher's 11-year reign at Zephyrhills: The talent is always there, his challenge is to unearth it, get it into camp, coach it, drill it and then let it loose on Friday nights.
This season will be no different. And stop worrying about Sullivan, he said.
"The kids who played with (Sullivan) knew he put his stuff on like they did, they knew he was an exceptional athlete. There's no replacing something like that. You've got to have everyone else pull together to avoid that void."
The key to this Bulldogs' season unquestionably lies with tailback Terry Allen, who rushed for 1,226 yards last season. Fullback Terry Hurlburt is also a key part of the running attack. But the pair will be running behind an offensive line that only returns starter Jake Whiddon.
Allen has to keep the pressure off untested junior quarterback Brett Cimorelli, who Fisher said could have started for Zephyrhills last year.
"He handles himself well for his size," Fisher said of his 6-foot- 4 quarterback. "He's smart, his footwork is getting there, and he's faster than last year."
Cimorelli isn't worried, either. Not only has he kept his nerves under control, he said, but he has also set a lofty goal for himself.  "All the great quarterbacks at Zephyrhills have thrown for 1,000- yards," he said. "It's something I'd like to do, too."
Said Fisher: "He knows what he's doing back there. As long as he gets support from the rest of the team, he should do all right. He just needs a game or two to get his feet wet.
Okay, so Zephyrhills has running backs and a quarterback. Tight end and defensive line are also solid but that's it. Everywhere else, competition abounds for starting spots: offensive line, wide receivers, linebackers and the secondary. But turnout for camp this year was high, including several athletes who were trying out for the varsity for the first time.
Fisher isn't alone in his assessment of the team. Allen said he isn't worried, either.
"I think we'll have a good season," he said. "I'm pretty confident. We've got a lot of good people here; we've just got to put it all together."
Scouting Report-The offense
Passing: Quarterback Brett Cimorelli is untested; so are most of his receivers. Cimorelli is more of a drop-back passer; Jamie Sullivan is a scrambler, and Cimorelli said Sullivan edged him out in 1997 on speed. Well, Cimorelli is faster now, too - 4.7 in the 40. He worked hard in the off-season and, at 6 feet 4, can see more of the field than his predecessor. "He's capable of doing a lot," Fisher said. Cousins Andrew and Justin Griffin could be big at receiver. Jarred Fiscarelli and Spence Jones are solid tight ends.
Rushing: Here's a peek at Fisher's playbook: Terry Allen; Terry Allen; Terry Allen. "He's a natural," Fisher said. "He's a running back that can do it all." Terry Hurlburt tends to run straight ahead, but the fullback is also a power runner. Steve Mathis backs them up.
Line: Jake Whiddon is the anchor at right tackle. Center Craig Merson has varsity experience. Chester Rathburn at left guard and Chris Palmer at right guard are in from the wrestling team, but only Rathburn has played varsity. At left tackle is Todd Black, filling Ryan Pickett's old spot.
The defense
Line: Fisher called this unit "the most experienced part of the defense." High praise indeed considering Pickett used to roam this area. Heading the Bulldogs' 4-4 scheme is Fiscarelli at left end, Jones at left tackle, Merson at right guard and Joey Burke at right end. Fiscarelli is the best pass-rusher; Jones the best run-stopper.
Linebackers: The outside backers have experience, with Andrew Griffin on the left side and last year's starter Hurlburt on the right. Newcomer Len Sones has been waiting for this chance, and he gets it as the starting right inside linebacker; Palmer joins him on the left. "These guys are head-hunters," Fisher said.
Backs: As depleted as the offensive line. Allen is the free safety. When R.J. Hill heals that toe he dropped a 45-pound weight on, he'll be the starting right corner. The rest of the bunch? Keep these names in mind: Philip Lake, Mike Moody, Geoff Castro and the Griffin cousins.
The staff-Head Coach: Fisher keeps winning at Zephyrhills, where he has compiled a 73-33 record in 11 seasons. His consistent, steady hand at the wheel is the reason this team is always competitive. But this season he faces his toughest challenge yet, replacing the most talented crop of players in 56 years of football at Zephyrhills. Oh, and arch-rival Pasco is loaded. The two teams are already jawing about their Sept. 11 meeting; Sullivan's transfer only fuels the fire everyone denies exists.
Staff: Chris Bounnell, Gary Butler, Bruce Cimorelli, Troy Hofstatler, Matt McDermott, John McDougall.
Special teams
After Sullivan beat him out at quarterback last year, Cimorelli excelled as the team's kicker and punter. Any standout on special teams, coach? "Hopefully, on kickoffs, you only need one person to put it in the end zone," Fisher said. Uh-oh, that doesn't sound good. "It's too soon to see," he added.

They Know the Drill, St. Petersburg Times, October 14, 1998
Zephyrhills High School Junior ROTC drill team members Jerry Mitchell IV, left, and Heather Avinger rehearse a routine Tuesday at the school. The 12-member team has its first competition Nov. 21 at the University of South Florida.

Bulldogs Best Brings Success, St. Petersburg Times, by Steve Lee, Section: Pasco Times, 1998
The Bulldogs still are basking in the glow of their first district title, won impressively last Thursday in a long-hoped-for upset of three-time defending champion Hudson.
So stoked was Zephyrhills after that victory that the Bulldogs trampled Citrus in Tuesday's opening round of the state Class 4A playoffs, allowing the Hurricanes just four offensive points total in a two-game sweep that took just 30 minutes.
Strongwill, stemming from strong Christian beliefs, packaged with natural ability, has delivered Josh Borders a handful of record- breaking performances in his two seasons as a competitive swimmer.
"Josh will, 'cause Josh will," Zephyrhills coach Shannon Mathews said of her top swimmer. "That's why Josh is good. It's all heart. There is some natural ability, but what separates that is heart."
"I was brought up to have a heart and do the best in whatever I can," Borders said. "I mainly swim for the Lord. He gave me the talent to do it. It says in the Bible to do everything to the fullest in his name."
Whether it's because of faith or talent, Borders' name has appeared among the leading swimmers in Pasco County since Zephyrhills formed a team last year. As a junior, Borders qualified for the state meet in the 100 butterfly. This fall, the senior aims for a return trip to the state meet, only this time in the 50 freestyle.
"I want to go to states and compete to the best of my ability," Borders said. "I really just want to go and be there with the cream of the crop."
In last year's state meet, Borders did not fare well among that crop, finishing in the lower echelon of the 40 swimmers in the 100 backstroke. But he was hardly disheartened by that performance.
"I really wasn't expecting much last year," said Borders, an honor roll student who often missed practices for tutoring sessions in pre- calculus. "It was just great to go."
Borders switched to freestyle this year and thinks he might place among the top 10 at the state meet.
He appears to be on the right track. At Saturday's Sunshine Athletic Conference meet, Borders set a conference mark in the 50 free (23.59) and was part of the record-setting 200 free relay race (1:42.16) that included teammates Danny Wardell, Austin Harley and Justin Innerbichler. Borders also won the 100 fly in a personal-best 1:00.05, though it wasn't a SAC record.
As a youngster, Borders swam competitively in Temple Terrace. His family moved to Zephyrhills, and he did not swim for a couple of years. When the Bulldogs started their swim program last year, Borders was one of the first to come out for the team.
His goals for this season are to do well at districts, make state and perhaps earn a swimming scholarship. He also is shooting for a 22-second time in the 50 free and to break a minute in the 100 fly.
Borders said he thinks he has a shot at all of his goals, especially with stiffer competition in the post-season. His best races, he said, came against River Ridge, which won the boys and girls SAC titles.
Borders also liked going up against Ridgewood's John Powell, a close friend, in the 50 free this year. In three meetings, Borders beat Powell twice.
Borders played football for Ricky Thomas, now the Pasco High coach, when he attended Weightman Middle School. He also ran track at Weightman and as a freshman and sophomore at Zephyrhills. But swimming eventually won out over football and track.
"I just got tired of running," he said.
Borders cannot comprehend tiring of swimming, though.
"It's like my vent," he said. "It relaxes me."

From Frying Pan to Fire for Bulldogs, St. Petersburg Times, by Jamal Thalji, November 5, 1998, Section: Pasco Times
The Bulldogs, though, are far from done. Or so they hope.
This team has set its sights on reaching the state final four. But to do so, the Class 4A, District 8 champions will have to survive perhaps the most brutal playoff bracket in the 4A playoffs, with the Nos. 1-, 2- and 3-ranked teams standing between the Bulldogs and the state championship.
After Wednesday's practice, Zephyrhills coach Pat Moul assembled her squad and passed on this important instruction: Don't worry about it.
"It's just like any other team we've faced," Moul said. "What they've done in the past doesn't matter. What we've done in the past doesn't matter. The past really doesn't matter.
"You've just got to go play it one game at a time. You've just got to go after them. We've just got to play our game and hopefully take them out of their game."
The first challenge comes Saturday, when the Bulldogs (25-8), ranked No. 6 in the state 4A poll, take on Orlando Bishop Moore (25- 5), ranked No. 3, at 2 p.m. at Jacksonville Bishop Kenny.
Then, barring a major upset in the form of Starke Bradford (17-16) somehow defeating Bishop Kenny (24-6) in the 4 p.m. match, the Bulldogs would have to take on Bishop Kenny, the No. 2-ranked team in 4A, in the 7 p.m. final.
And even if Zephyrhills can accomplish all this and reach the final four, barring another major upset, the Bulldogs would have to face the No. 1 team, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (29-1), in the Nov. 11 semifinals at Jenkins High School in Lakeland.
Bishop Moore coach Cindy Snow said she isn't thrilled about the bracket either, nor is she happy to have to face Zephyrhills on Saturday.
"Personally, I think it's a very tough bracket," said Snow, the first-year Hornets coach. "I think it's unfortunate how tough the bracket is, but now you've just got to win because you either see them now or you see them in state."
Snow said her team is young, powered mostly by talented sophomores who started as freshmen last year - such as 5-foot-11 middle hitter Linsey Carter, 5-10 outside hitter Kirby Wallace and new addition Angie Boyd, a 5-7 junior setter.
"We're just learning to play together," Snow said. "That's why a lot of our losses are in the early part of the season."
After losing the 4A-8 title to Zephyrhills, Hudson coach Linda McQuade joked that after three years of having to climb over the state's best teams every year in the playoffs, she would actually enjoy a playoff run as the 4A-8 runner-up.
"Every year it seems that all we play are private schools," she said. "Now this year, maybe things will be a little easier for us."
Moul acknowledged that her team is on an extremely difficult path through the playoffs to the final four. But then again, she added, it wouldn't be the playoffs if it was supposed to be easy.
"I'll be honest with you, I don't think any game that any team plays right now is an easy game," she said. "I don't think there’s really any easy game.
"They've got to come out and play, and we've got to come out and play. That's about all that I can tell my team."

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1998

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, October 1, 1997
Laura Noble, Zephyrhills High School honor student, is a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The school's JROTC unit has again earned the designation of Honor Unit With Distinction. This is the fourth time they have been singled out for excellence. Pasco-Hernando Community College adviser Bridgette Scarborough Briggs will be at the Zephyrhills High School campus Oct. 9 and 23 and on Nov. 20 and Dec. 11. She will advise students on career planning, transfer credits, dual enrollment, admissions and more.

Zephyrhills High School 1997 Scholarships Awarded, Pasco News—Zephyrhills Edition, June 5, 1997, By Mary Harman
A special assembly was held Friday morning, May 30, in the Zephyrhills auditorium for the awarding of scholarships and special awards, to the 1997 Senior Class.
A prelude by the ZHS Band under the direction of Paul Steuart opened the program followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mrs. Elise Hanna introduced Principal James “Jim” Davis who stated that the scholarship monies received by the class of 1996 was well over $800,000 with $30,000 being presented by local clubs, organizations and businesses, after which the 1997 Class President Kevin Barry presented the 197 Class Gift to Mr. Davis. This gift can be seen on the walls of the entrance to ZHS. Kevin also presented a ZHS class ring to Russian exchange student, Gueorgui Tchekhovski.
Mr. Davis presented the 1997 class Salutatorian Tazia Stagg and class Valedictorian Charles Garrod each an award to add to the numerous awards they have received in the past month. Mr. Davis followed by presenting the ZHS Outstanding Student Award to Eric Beasely, followed by the presentation of the Channel 10 Students of the Month at ZHS who each received a certificate.
Mrs. Hanna introduced the 34 National Honor Society graduates, Amanda Baldwin, James Carpenter, Rebecca Craft, Tim Delgado, Charlie Demosthenous, Chad Denman, Shelby Denman, Erin Dodd, Jennifer Dubay, Ryan Dye, and Kim Ezzo. Also Rhone Fraser, Jennifer Fritz, Charles Garrod, Jason Grzywna, Casey Hewlett, Angelica Kelley, Holly May, Beverly McQuay, Jason Moss, Ujjwal Patel, Polly Perkins.
Followed by Julia Philip’s, Stephanie Porter, Cara Rodgers, Dena Rogers, Matte Sellers, Michael Sinatra, Tania Stag, Julie Sumangpang, Sonia Thompson, Melissa Vandergriff, Jason Wise and Jessie Wu, This was followed by the National Merit Scholar Awards presented to Sonia Thompson and Michael Sinatra.
Those candidates receiving the Florida Undergraduate Scholars Medallions were Amber Cox, Jennifer Dubay, Ryan Dye, Rhone Frasier, Jennifer Fritz, Charles Garrod, Jason Grzywna, Casey Hewlett, Kristen Lasher, Matti Sellars, Michael Sinatra, Tazia Stagg, Sonia Thompson and Jason Wise. Mrs. Hanna continued by presenting the Gold Seal Endorsement Scholarship Candidates, Benjamin Ashmore, Tori Avery, David Belcher, Gerard Broeders, James Carpenter, Jessica Combs, Rebecca Craft, Emilee Lewis, Craig Livingston, Sarah Miller, John Partain, Purvi Patel, Julie Philippus, Carly Phillips, Heather Poulin, Lauren Robinson, Cara Rodgers, Ruth Springer, Courtney Sullivan, Julie Sumagpang and Melissa Vandergriff.
Mrs. Hanna followed by presenting the Pride awards which went to students who kept a 3.5 average over four years in the subjects of social studies, journalism, science and math. For excellence in science and math were Tazia Stagg, Sonia Thompson, Rhone Frasier, and Casey Hewlett. For excellence in science were Jennifer Fritz, Sonia Thompson, and Deena Rogers. In social studies was Amber Cox. In science and social studies was Michael Sinatra. In writing was Cara Rodgers. In mathematics was Charles Garrod. Straight A Certificates were awarded to 24 students including seniors Charles Garrod and Casey Hewlett.
Mr. Davis presented the Principal’s Scholarship to Eric Beasley and the Keith Sampson Memorial Scholarship to Everett Wilson. The Pasco-Hernando Community College representative presented an $800 Scholarship to Shirley Morris and a full PHCC Scholarship of approximately $800 per year to the following members of the Top Ten Percent: James Carpenter, Charlie Demosthenous, Chad Denman, Shelby Denman, Jennifer Dubay, Ryan Dye, Kimberly Ezzo, Rhone Fraser, Jennifer Fritz, Charles Garrod, Laura Heon, Casey Hewlett, Holly May, Jason Moss, Stephanie Porter, Cara Rodgers, Deena Rodgers, Matti Sellars, Michael Sinatra, Tazia Stagg, Sonia Thompson, Melissa Vandergriff, Jason Wise and Jessie Wu.
The recipients of the two $1,000 Tampa Technical Institute Scholarships were Jarmyn Logan and Leah Aaseng and the $16,380 Scholarship, Toni Stephens. Heritage Arts Center Association Scholarship of $250 was received by Ayako Tanaka. The $300 Pasco County Association of Education Office Professional Scholarship was received by James Carpenter.
The Zephyrhills Lions Club presented five Scholarships of $500 to Kenneth Schultz, Jennifer Fritz, Shelby Denman, Emilee Lewis, and Deena Rogers. The Alumni Association Scholarship Association presented two scholarships of $200 each to Cara Rodgers and Courtney Sullivan. Rotary Club of Zephyrhills presented two $1,000 scholarships to Elizabeth Alair and Jennifer Fritz and a $500 Raymond B. Stewart Scholarship to Benjamin Ashmore, a $1,000 Athletic Scholarship to Jason Gryzwna, and a $3,000 Opportunity Scholarship to Angelica Kelley.  Zephyrhills Daybreak Rotary presented a $600 scholarship to Michael Soule. The Zephyrhills Kiwanis Club presented two scholarships of $1,000 each to Benjamin Ashmore, Emilee Lewis and a $500 scholarship to Cara Rodgers.
The Donna Jones Memorial Award Scholarship was presented to Charlie Demosthenous. Mrs. Loraine Jones also presented a plaque to the class of 1998 in memory of her daughter and two others who would have graduated in 1998. Casey Hewlett received $250 from Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship, Gamma Chi Chapter and Kimberly Ezzo received the $300 American Business Women’s Scholarship. The Moose Lodge presented four Scholarships of $1,000 each to James Carpenter, Deena Rogers, Jason Wise and Stephanie Porter along with the $1,000 Scholarship from the Ladies of the Moose received by Jennifer Asbel.
The first New River Methodist Church $1,000 Scholarship was awarded to Polly Perkins. The Teens for Christ Club $500 Scholarship went to Emilee Lewis. Women’s Club of Zephyrhills presented two Scholarships of $500 to Elizabeth Alair and Stephanie Porter. The Walmart $1,000 Scholarship was presented to James Carpenter and the Smith’s Pool Supply Scholarship of $500 to David Belcher. The Nick Nichols Memorial Scholarship was presented to Matti Sellars. The Pilot Club Scholarship of $1,000 was presented to Melanie Moore.
Withlacoochee River Electric Coop, Inc. presented seven Scholarships of $500 for first semester, renewable for each semester up to $4,000 each to Elizabeth Alair, Kathryn Berman, Jason Geiger, Angelica Kelley, Jay Krause, Kenneth Schultz, and Jason Wise.
The Board of Realtors $200 scholarship was awarded to Polly Perkins and the Interact Club Scholarships were awarded to Jennifer Fritz and Charlie Demosthenous. The Student Council Scholarship went to Deena Rogers. The Merrill Miller Fine Arts Award and the Band Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Kenneth Schultz. The United States Army Reserve Scholarship recipients were Pfc. Richard Darling, Pfc. William O’Steen and Pfc. Clint Dornquast and the United Army Reserve Athletic Awards were received by Eric Beasley and Sonia Thompson. The Tampa Tribune Athletic Scholarship of $1,000 was presented to Deena Rogers. Two James A. Marlow Scholarships of $1,000 each went to Deena Rogers and Jennifer Fritz. Chad Denman received the $5,000 Up With People Scholarship.
Recognition was made of the 12 $500 Athletic Booster Club Scholarship Awards given on May 21. The T.C. Carr Musical Scholarship recipient was Michael Soule. The Chappie James Most Promising Teacher Scholarship went to Kenneth Schultz. The Sons of the American Revolution Scholarship went to Shelby Denman. Other Scholarships recently awarded were the FFA Alumni Scholarship and the Randy Spivey Award.
Friday morning also brought the following awards: Air force Science Award to Ryan Dye; ZHS Christian Athlete of the Year Award to Brian Fettig; Athlete of the Year-Male to Eric Beasley; Female Athlete of the Year—Jennifer Strickland; Shannon Neumann Memorial Safe Driving Award by the Pilot Club of Zephyrhills to Shannon Thompson.  Journalism Award to Sonia Thompson and Deena Rogers. Best Sports Editor in Pasco County for 1997 to Timothy Delgado. Best Editor in Pasco County to Casey Hewlett. Outstanding Student in English Award to Casey Hewlett. Outstanding Math Award to Charles Garrod. Outstanding Business Student Award to Laura Heon. Outstanding Accounting Student Award to Carly Phillips. Outstanding Science Award to Kathy Jacobs. Outstanding Achievement in Science Award to Sonia Thompson and Rhone Frasier. Spanish Award to Jared Ali.
Continuing the Perfect Attendance award was presented to several students including Senior, Sonia Thompson with four years of perfect attendance. Special Recognition Award-Adult Education to Edgar Torres and Adam Wilkes. Turn Around to Nate German, ending with Outstanding Visual Student Award to Gueorgui Tchekhovski.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1997

Even At NFL Pinacle, He’s Still From Pasco County, St. Petersburg Times, by Roger Miller, February 3, 2002
His eyes still have that glitter. His face still has that equatorial smile. His mood still is as infectious as it was when he was sacking quarterbacks for Zephyrhills High School.
Ryan Pickett, the St. Petersburg Times All Suncoast Player of the Year in 1997, is basking in great fortune but never abandoning his down-home roots.
"I can't forget where I'm from," said Pickett, a reserve defensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams. "I'm Pasco County. I'm the same guy who played for the Bulldogs, the same guy."
Today, that same guy who tormented River Ridge, Gulf, Hudson and Pasco high schools, will finish what has been a challenging rookie season in the NFL with an appearance in the game's greatest event, the Super Bowl.
But when you listen to him talk, and you watch how he goes about the business of granting interviews and juggling the responsibilities of being a professional athlete, Pickett, who still goes by the nickname Grease given to him as a teenager, seems to have changed very little.
"Man, this is the Super Bowl," he said. "I'm in the Super Bowl and it's been like a dream come true. I would never have thought that I would be here, but here I am. It's been unreal."
What also has been unreal is Pickett's journey to the big game. A heralded offensive and defensive lineman, he was the youngest of four Pickett’s to play for Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher. And following in the footsteps of older brothers Booker, Reuben and cousin Damien, Ryan Pickett became one of the county's most impressive high school players.
An intense recruiting war followed and Pickett, surprisingly, chose Ohio State University over a number of top rated teams in the South, including state powers like Florida and Florida State.
In Columbus, Pickett was made a starter immediately and after three standout seasons he felt ready to move on the NFL and declared for the draft.
The Rams selected him with their third pick of the first round (29th overall) and what had been a football career made easy by raw talent suddenly changed perspective.
"You know, when he first got here I thought he had no chance to play," said Rams defensive line coach Bill Kollar. "He was out of shape, showed no quickness, no effort, I mean it was as bad as you could imagine. It was like taking a guy off the street.
"He was in pitiful condition. He couldn't do anything. He couldn't run, he was always tired. I guess he didn't realize what kind of work we put in here in the pros, even in mini camp (in April 2001) and it sort of shocked him."
Kollar said Pickett, now 22, likely had some sobering moments during his mini camp baptism and he reacted positively.
"By the time we got into regular camp (late July), he was in decent enough shape to where he was able to compete," Kollar said. "And now, all of a sudden, you started to see that quickness he has. He kept going and saw the other guys working and hustling; now he works as well as anyone on our field."
Kollar said the Rams had to start from scratch and teach Pickett a number of techniques and impress upon him that relying on raw talent wasn't enough.
"He's come a long, long way since we first drafted him and saw him in the first mini camp and he still has a long, long way to go," Kollar said. "But he has made huge strides."
Pickett's good natured personality and respectful approach to his elders have gained him brownie points among the veteran players on the defensive line.
Former Bucs defensive end Chidi Ahanotu, now a Ram who just completed his ninth season in the league, said that as Pickett was indeed struggling to become a pro at the start of the season, most of players in the Rams locker room were in his corner.
"Grease is a good kid and the kind of kid you want to see succeed," Ahanotu said. "He's not pretentious, doesn't have any ego and you would never think he's a first-round pick.
"He was really struggling, as all rookies do, I was there too, he was in certain situations where we would get on him on certain things. There were times when he was really messing up, close to imploding; I had to cover my eyes. But now, he's made so many strides we call him 'Professor.' That's how far he's come. You ask him a question, he knows it."
"It was a challenge for me," said Pickett, who was inactive for five of the Rams first nine games but has since played in nine straight. "I had never been in that kind of situation before. I had always been a starter, always did things on instinct, now I had to become a pro, had to learn to be on the bench."
But while today's game marks the end of the season, for Pickett it also marks the beginning of the most important year in his pro career.
It is a commonly held belief that most professionals can make their biggest strides or biggest slips between their first and second seasons.
"I told him about that," Ahanotu said. "I was sitting on the sidelines with him during practice and I said, 'Grease, this is the time when you have a chance to slip and lose the things that you gained this season. It's been a long year for you and you may want to go out and hang out in the off-season and let it all go. That'll be a mistake. You're going to have to watch out for that.' I hope he was soaking it in."
Kollar feels the same way.
"I think he realizes what it takes and what his work ethic has to be," Kollar said. "The key will be his working out in the off-season and how he comes back to our place in March for the off-season conditioning program. I think he can end up having a real good year for us next year."

Zephyrhills Wrestlers Take Two State Titles by Rick Gershman, St. Petersburg Times, February 24, 1997, Section: Pasco Times.
 For someone favored to win the title, Dan Zawicki's effort at the high school state wrestling tournament started off rather poorly.  Friday, the Zephyrhills High senior was in the first round of the Class 4A tournament at the Bayfront Center. Since Zawicki qualified for state as a region champion, he was facing a fourth-place region opponent, a seemingly easy match for Zawicki.
But immediately, Torrance Pugh of Clewiston led the admittedly overconfident top seed Zawicki 5-0.
"I felt that I was going to win (state), and I guess it hurt me in my first two matches," Zawicki acknowledged. "I found myself down and I had to come back." Zawicki went on to win that match and three more to become Zephyrhills' first-ever state champion.
Also winning a state title was Pasco High senior Chris Hancock, who found the going a bit smoother in winning the 130-pound title in 4A. Hancock, who like Zawicki was the top seed in his division, romped through his opening three matches to reach Saturday night's championship final, where he faced a familiar foe. Standing in the way of Hancock's title was one of only two wrestlers to defeat him this season: Tampa Jesuit sophomore John Solomon.
Then again, Hancock already had avenged that loss by defeating Solomon the last two times they met. Hancock made it three straight with his 5-3 victory in the 130 final.
"I couldn't believe it," Hancock said. "That's what I've been dreaming about for all four years."
Zawicki, 17, also faced a familiar opponent from Tampa Jesuit in his final. It was Chris McLaughlin, whom Zawicki had defeated three times before this season, most recently with a 14-3 major decision.
McLaughlin fared better this time, though Zawicki pulled out a 4-2 win while dealing with a pulled right calf muscle.
"I don't think (the injury) made a difference in the match," Zawicki said. "I just think (McLaughlin) was wrestling really well; he'd gotten a lot better, and I probably was a little overconfident."
However, Zawicki never trailed in this one, going up 2-0 on an early takedown and increasing it to 4-0 before McLaughlin picked up a couple of third-period points.
Earlier that day, Zawicki pinned Lake Region's Jason Smith in the semifinals after leading Smith throughout. It was a nice change from having to come from behind twice Friday.
In the opening match against Pugh, Zawicki turned a 5-0 deficit into a 9-6 victory by scoring several near falls, in which a wrestler comes close to pinning the opponent. He later won his second match 4-2 over Poinciana's Brent Kewley despite trailing 2-0 early.
Zawicki (33-3) finished second in the state at 160 last season. He came into this tournament expecting to win, but to him it's no big deal.
"(The championship) was just like any other match I won," he said. "It didn't really hit me that it was the state final. It was just wrestling McLaughlin again. I don't want to get a big head about it."
Zawicki credited Zephyrhills coach Kevin Epifanio with teaching him the lesson that would be most crucial in this tournament:
"He taught me how to come back from losing a match to win it, to keep from getting down on myself," Zawicki said. "That helped me out the most."
Hancock, 18, said he also benefited from quality coaching, not only from Pasco head coach Joe Thompson but also from assistant coach Ken Zdrojewski.
Zdrojewski was very familiar with Hancock's mission because he won a state title in the very same 130-pound division for Pasco last year.
"Training with Ken the whole year was a real advantage," said Hancock, who nevertheless did not receive any special advice from Zdrojewski before the title match. "He just told me that I was on a mission, and I had to get out there and do it."
Hancock (34-2) briefly trailed in the final when Solomon scored a point by escaping Hancock's grasp. Hancock scored a takedown to go up 2-1 but allowed another escape to tie the score at 2 entering the final period.
This time, Hancock escaped Solomon to go up 3-2, and then took Solomon down again to make it 5-2. Another Solomon escape at the end made it 5-3.
Pasco County had three other wrestlers place in the state tournament.
Though only a sophomore, Ridgewood's Dustin Swanton was a Class 5A state runner-up, reaching the 112 final before losing 3-1 to Toby McDonald of Venice. Swanton finished the season at 35-4. His teammate, senior Brian Matheson, won four matches to finish fourth at 119.
Hudson senior Billy Flood, a 4A runner-up last season at 130, had his title hopes at 135 dashed in the first round with a 3-2 loss to Jacksonville's Scott Weinstein.
However, Flood battled back in the consolation bracket, recording two 11-0 decisions and a 39-second pin before earning a rematch with Weinstein. Flood won that 5-3, and followed with a 9-7 win in the consolation final to earn third place.
 
Bulldog Beacon Newsletter of Zephyrhills High School, Fall 1996
Congratulations to Jennifer Dubay and Frank Quaglia “Commended Students” in the 1997 National Merit Scholarship Program.  They placed in the top 5% of more than one million students taking the 1995 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
FFA
The ZHS Future Homemakers of America installed the following officers for 1996-97: President: Becky Craft; President-Elect: Seana Karpys; Secretary: Julia Philpus; Treasurer: Raquel Slovia and Historian: Beverly McQuay.
ZHS Wrestling
The ZHS Wrestling Team started their season with a win against Citrus. The team has a strong line-up with a lot of returning members including state runner-up: Dan Zawicki, James Leach, Mike Rachaner, Eric Beasley, Scott Nabozny, Ethen Rouse, Richard Darling, Daniel Fleshood, and Chris Palmer. New to the team this year are David Summers, Chris Shroeder, Chris Harrelson, and Steve Wright.

Dodd is All State in Soccer by Jim Carson, St. Petersburg Times, March 19, 1997, Section: Pasco Times
All-time scoring leader Erin Dodd of Zephyrhills High picked up another honor Monday when she was named to the Class 4A all-state soccer team.
Dodd, a forward/midfielder, scored 44 goals this year to break her own single-season record and her 147 career goals also is a school record. She helped Zephyrhills win district titles in 1995 and this season, when the Bulldogs reached the region semifinals before losing 1-0 to Durant.
Dodd also was named the Times' all-North Suncoast offensive player of the year this season and was a four-time all-Sunshine Athletic Conference selection.
Dodd also played for the West squad last week in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star series. She has not announced her college plans.
No other Pasco County players were named all-state, despite a state final four appearance by the River Ridge boys and a region semifinal appearance by the Royal Knights girls.
Two players from Hernando High, which placed second to Zephyrhills in the district, also were named all-state. They were forward Lindsey Copeland and goalkeeper Aliza Loveday.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, April 7, 1997
Kyla Morse, a junior at Zephyrhills High School, has been selected to participate as a member of the American Christian Youth Chorale. Chosen from students nationwide, Kyla will perform nationally and internationally in the 1997 "One Nation Under God Tour."

Erin Dodd Signs with Memphis, St. Petersburg Times, by Jim Carson, May 1, 1997
You might say Erin Dodd is all shook up about the college scholarship she accepted Wednesday.
The record-breaking Zephyrhills High forward is headed to the University of Memphis, the city that was home to Elvis. And while Dodd might pay a visit to Graceland while she's there, school and soccer will be her top priorities.
Dodd accepted a partial scholarship to the Division I school with the expectation that more aid will be offered after her freshman year. Dodd turned down an offer from South Carolina.
"I just loved the school and I really liked the coaches," Dodd said. "And I'll get more aid after my first year, depending on how I do as a freshman."
If Dodd matches her accomplishments at Zephyrhills, she should do just fine. She scored a school-record 147 career goals and this season broke her own school record with 44 in leading the Bulldogs to a district title. Zephyrhills also won a district title in 1995 when Dodd scored 43 goals.
"Erin is very deserving of this," Zephyrhills coach Mike Stepp said. "She has given everything she has for four years and this is a very nice reward for her. I've always said she had the ability to be a Division I player."
Stepp said Dodd had a huge impact on Zephyrhills' program.
"It was her spark and her attitude," Stepp said. "Even when she came in as a freshman she was a leader. She was someone everybody else looked to. They saw her abilities and she inspired them to be better players.
"And as far as coaching goes, she was the most coachable player I have ever seen. She listened and didn't give you any back talk. She loved playing the game."
Dodd was a four-time member of the Times All-North Suncoast team and was the offensive player of the year this season.
"This makes all the hard work worth it," Dodd said. "I'd just like to go up there and get a starting position and do my best."
Dodd said she plans to major in business or accounting.
 
Zephyrhills High School First Annual Awards and Scholarship Night, Zephyrhills Sun, by Mary A. Harman, May 29, 1997
The activities building of Zephyrhills High School was filled with family, faculty and staff of ZHS on Wednesday evening, May 21, for the Zephyrhills High School Sports Booster Club’s 1st Annual Awards and Scholarship Night directed by President David Fritz, who gave the welcome, followed by Mr. James Davis, ZHS principal, who thanked the Booster Club for what they are doing in giving the Athletic Scholarships. Mr. Davis said, “I have told some of the other principals in Pasco County, what the Booster Club is doing and they can’t believe that we can have an Athletic Booster Club that can provide that kind of assistance.”
To begin the awards, Coach Tom Fisher, assisted by Mr. Fritz presented the Football Sports Awards to Lorenzo Limoges, Most Outstanding Player, Nick Carroll, Most Outstanding Defensive Back; Ryan Pickett, Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman; Mike Barber, most Outstanding Offensive Back; Eric Beasley, Most Outstanding Lineman; Kevin Widener, Most Improved Player and Gary Steele, Coaches Award. The senior football players for 1996-97 were J.B. Wilson, Jerome Pruno, Kevin Widener, Mike Barber, Mike Holmes, Sean Fitzgerald, Lorenzo Limoges, William O’Steen, Justin Monbarren, Jason Wise, Eric Beasley, Tim Delgado, and Jason Grzywna.
Coach Pat Moul presented the Volleyball Sports Award to Jennifer Fritz, Heart and Soul to Jennifer Strickland and Most Improved to Loraine Clausnitzer. The senior volleyball players for 1996-97 were Jennifer Fritz and Deena Rogers.
Coach Dave Jones, who announced that he would not be coaching after this school year, presented the Girl’s Cross-Country Sports Award to Renae Neale-Best Runner; Karen Cornelius, Most Improved Runner and Krysten Jones, Coaches’ Award. The only senior girl cross country runner for 1996-97 was April Ciulla.
Mr. Jones followed by presenting the Boy’s Cross Country Sports Awards to Kevin Barry, Best Runner; Chris Poe, Most Improved Runner and James Carpenter, Coaches’ Award. The senior cross country runners for 1996-97 were Kevin Berry, James Carpenter and Mike Foss.
Coach Ernie Pittman presented the Girls Basketball Sports Awards to Kristen Schleicher, Most Improved Player; Nicole Gingerich, 3-D Award (Dedication, Desire and Determination); and Sonia Thompson, Most Valuable Player. The senior girls’ basketball players for 1996-97 were Deena Roberts and Sonia Thompson.
Athletic Director and Coach Craig Milburn presented the Boy’s Basketball Sports Awards to Teon Black, Most Improved; Rey Lopez, Coaches’ Award; Demetrius McKay, Most Valuable Player and J.J. Coley, Best All-Around. The senior boys’ basketball players for 1996-97 were Ben Ashmore, Mike Foss, James Howton and Julian Rivera.
Coach Mike Stepp presented the Girls Soccer Awards to Erin Dodd, Offensive Most Valuable Player, Adrienne Harris, Defensive Most Valuable Player and Melissa Tibbs, Coaches’ Award. The senior girls’ soccer players for 1996-97 were Amy Cleary, Natasha Palmer, April Cuilla, Erin Dodd, Megan Wastrack and Adrienne Harris.
Coach Chris Bounnel presented the Boy’s Soccer Awards to Geoff Castro, Best Offensive Player, Brian Hussey, Best Defensive Planer and Jason Andrews, Most Improved. The senior boys for 1996-97 were Charlie Garrod, Ken Hallahan, Larry Kraus, Jon Ridenour, and David Rhoden
Coaches Kevin Epifanio and Matt McDermott presented the Wrestling Sports Awards to Eric Beasley, Most Improved, Mike Rachaner, Coaches’ Award and Dan Zawicki, Most Valuable. The senior wrestlers for 1996-97 were Eric Beasley, Richard Darling, Jimmy Leach, Mike Rachaner and Dan Zawicki.
Coach Chris Bounell presented the Weightlifting Sports Awards to Sean Fitzgerald, Most Outstanding Lifter; Chris Poe, 100% Award and Chad Denman, Most Improved. The senior weightlifters for 1996-97 were Sean Fitzgerald, Craig Livingston, Gabe Torres, Jason Gryzwna, Mike Sinatra, Chad Denman, Lorenzo Limoges, T. J. Fiscarelli, Eric Beasley and Tim Delgado.
Coaches Kim Anderson and Paulette Forney presented the Football Cheerleading Sports Awards to Amanda Baldwin, Most Spirited, Jami Stalnaker, Most Improved and April Evenson, Best All Around Cheerleader Award. The senior cheerleaders were Kori Wade, Amanda Baldwin, Jami Stalnaker, April Evenson, Emilee Lewis and Morgan Steward.
The Basketball Cheerleading Sports Awards were presented to Emilee Lewis, Most Spirited Award; Lanika Harrold, Coaches’ Award, and Molly Mead, Most Improved. The senior basketball cheerleaders for 1996-97 were April Evenson, Emilee Lewis and Lanika Harrold.
Coach Pat Moul presented the Girl’s Softball Awards to Jennifer Strickland, Heart and Soul Award to Nicole Gingerich, Heart and Soul Award and Heather Britton, Most Improved. There were no 1996-97 seniors on the girl’s softball team.
Coach Bruce Cimorelli presented the Boys Baseball Sports Awards to J.D. Porter, Most Valuable Player, Brad Blessing, Most Valuable Player and Brett Cimorelli, Golden Glover Award. The Senior boy’s baseball players for 1996-97 were Justin Monbarren, Brad Blessing and J.D. Porter.
Coach Belinda Brown presented the Girls Tennis Sports Award to Ayako Tanaka, MVP, Julie Sumagpang, Best Attitude, and Rehka Krishnaraj, Most Improved. The senior girls’ tennis players for 1996-97 were Ayako Tanaka and Julie Sumagpang.
Coach David Camper presented the Boys Tennis Sports Awards to Brian, Bliss, Captain, Joshua Hinkle, Most Valuable Player and Nathan West, Most Improved. The senior boys’ players for 1996-97 were Brian Bliss, Shelby Denman and Mac Sumagpang.
Coach Gary Butler presented the Girls Track Sports Awards to Jennifer Phethean, Most Outstanding, Renae Neale, most Improved, and Tazia Stagg, Coaches Award. The senior girls track members for 1996-97 were April Ciulla, Holly May and Tazia Stagg.
Coach Dave Jones presented the Boys Track Sports Awards to Ryan Dye, Best Track Athlete, Paul Perez, Most Improved, and Rey Lopez, Coaches’ Award. The senior boys track members for 1996-97 were David Belcher, Kevin Berry, Eric Beasley, Ryan Dye, Mike Foss and J.B. Wilson.
Coach Bob Hatfield presented the Boy’s Golf Sports Awards to Jared Brown, Scoring Leader, C.J. Funnell, Most Improved and Chuckie Daniels, Coaches’ Award. The senior boy’s golf players for 1996-97 were Paul Bott, Chuckie Daniels and Colin Christopher.
Coach Paulette Forney presented the Girl’s Golf Sports Awards to Tracy Negoshian, Best Golfer, Andra Howell, Most Improved Golfer and McKensi Milburn, Most Dedicated Golfer.
Jennifer Fritz was the only 1996-97 senior on the girls golf team.
The highlight of the evening to conclude the presentation of the awards was the presentation of the first ever Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs Sports Booster Club Scholarship Awards of 12---$500 each, presented by the Sports Booster Club President David Fritz to Benjamin Ashmore, Kevin Barry, Eric Beasley, Shelby Denman, Erin Dodd, Michael Foss, Jennifer Fritz, Michael Mann, Michael Rachaner, Deena Rogers, Sonia Thompson and Jason Wise.
Other Bulldogs Sports Club officers are Don Eisenbrown, Vice President; Elaine Clausnitzer, Secretary and Bruce Scheuerman, Treasurer.

Top of the Class, St. Petersburg Times, May 7, 1997
Saturday is prom night. The school advisory committee meets Monday at 8 a.m. in the media center. Renae Neale won best of show and a $100 award in the Congressional Art Competition. Her work, entitled My First Love, a Self Portrait, will be on display in the Washington office of U.S. Representative Michael Bilirakis.

Barber Signs for Football at North Dakota School, St. Petersburg Times, by Roger Mills, May 16, 1997
He wanted to play college football. He wanted a full ride. And he wanted to stay close to home.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Zephyrhills High star running back Mike Barber, the school's all-time rushing and touchdown leader, Tuesday signed a national letter of intent to play at Mayville State University in Mayville, N.D.
Yup, North Dakota.
Barber, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound tailback with excellent field vision and turn-the-corner speed, will get a full ride with the NAIA Division II team that plays in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference.
"The ducks have to leave the pond sometime," said Barber's father, Mike Barber Sr. "I know it's a long way from here, but Mike will do just fine."
Barber, the featured runner for the Bulldogs over the last two seasons, leaves the state with impressive credentials. A two-time All-Sunshine Athletic Conference first-team selection, he ended his career at Zephyrhills with 3,229 yards and 32 touchdowns.
As a senior, he rushed for 1,343 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his final game as a Bulldog, he rushed for 272 yards on 14 carries and scored three touchdowns as Zephyrhills rolled to a 39-13 win over Gulf.
"He's a very quick back whose best asset is field vision," said coach Tom Fisher. "He learned to use his blockers very well and anticipates the holes made by the offensive line."
 
Zephyrhills High Series: Charles Garrod and Tazia Kallenbach Stagg Series, St. Petersburg Times, May 21, 1997
 The Zephyrhills High School valedictorian for the class of 1997 is Charles Garrod, 18. Graduating with a GPA of 4.36, Charles took advanced classes in calculus, biology and American history and honors classes in everything ZHS offered.
The son of Curt and Vicki Garrod of Zephyrhills, Charles was editor of the ZHS school paper and a National Merit finalist. He participated in Odyssey of the Mind, honor roll and National Honor Society. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer and working on computers.
"My parents and friends are just great," Charles said. "ZHS is a pretty good school. We had a great Odyssey of the Mind team and always placed very high. Just this year we placed second at state."
In the fall, Charles will enter Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif., to pursue a career in engineering or to eventually teach engineering. Tazia Kallenbach Stagg
Tazia Kallenbach Stagg, 18, is the Zephyrhills High School salutatorian of 1997. She graduates with a GPA of 4.25, with advanced studies in biology, English and calculus as well as a wide variety of honors classes.
Tazia lives in Wesley Chapel with her parents, William and Linda Stagg, and is not only a scholar but an accomplished athlete. This past week, Tazia came in third in the 800-meter 4-A Florida state track meet, and her relay team placed in the top ten in the 4 x 800 meter race.
"I really enjoyed going to ZHS," Tazia said. "It's a nice school. I liked the teachers, and we have a great principal. My parents are always encouraging, and my older sister, Mandie, was a big help . . . especially with calculus."
Tazia made academic all-conference, honor roll and National Honor Society and participated in basketball and track. In the fall, Tazia is going to USF to study medicine.
 
Finally Out of Here, St. Petersburg Times, June 8, 1997
 Unfettered joy combined with relief and a bit of sadness as 1,850 seniors graduated from Pasco's seven regular high schools on Friday.
Zephyrhills- Bobby Davis was ready for his diploma.
"I can't wait," he said moments before the graduation ceremony started. "I go to work Monday."
The graduate starts a $9-an-hour job at Lykes Dispensers where he'll be a production technician, building juice machines. In August, when he turns 18, Bobby plans to start training to learn to repair air conditioners. He made a beeline across the room where seniors assembled before the ceremony to shake the hand of principal Jim Davis, who is no relation. The class of 1997 started as freshmen when Davis started as principal, so he was particularly proud of them.
"They're a good class, a good class. They have proven leadership abilities," Davis said, adding that the students also did well academically. One of the academic leaders, valedictorian Charles Garrod, was ready to give his speech. "I've been practicing all day long," he said.
Asked if his speech was good, Garrod replied, "its short ... I don't really have anything to say that hasn't been said before, so I'm keeping it short." While he wasn't at all nervous, salutatorian Tazia Stagg was feeling a little shaky as she reviewed her speech and sipped bottled water.
"I'm finally starting to calm down from getting my gown on," she said.
Graduating seniors weren't the only ones plagued with a bad case of nerves. Donnie Stephens, whose daughter Amanda was graduating, waited outside of the gymnasium with family members before the ceremony.  "I bet I'm more nervous than she is," Stephens said of his feelings compared to his daughter's. His reasoning was simple: "She's my baby."
Equally simple was the sentiment expressed in writing on the rear window of a Plymouth Horizon that might at one time have been white. Parked in the students' lot, the car bore these apparent nicknames on the window, "Boss Hog and Boss Lips."
Underneath the names it said, "Outta here." - Staff writers Jennifer Brett, Graham Brink, Geoff Dougherty, Richard Verrier and Nancy Weil contributed to this report.

Zephyrhills Adds Boys and Girls Swimming, St. Petersburg Times, by Tony Castro, June 13, 1997
Zephyrhills High School will dive into a new sport this fall - boys and girls swimming. The first practice will be Aug. 11 at the open-air Hercules Aquatic Center in Zephyrhills.
The Bulldogs' schedule to this point features 10 regular-season meets beginning with a Sept. 10 date at Gulf. The first home meet will be Sept. 17 against Land O'Lakes.
With Zephyrhills entering the water, the Sunshine Athletic Conference can officially consider swimming a conference sport since Gulf, Land O'Lakes, River Ridge and Springstead also have teams.
Zephyrhills graduate Shannon Mathews, 30, will be the school's first swimming coach. She has taught swimming for three summers, and lettered three times in basketball and once in cross country.
"We're still looking for boys," said Mathews, a 1992 graduate of South Florida and mother of three boys. "But we've got another meeting (July 8 at Zephyrhills High's Commons area) before we begin practice. I'd like to see us carry 30 kids (15 girls and 15 boys)."
As far as expectations, "The only place to go is up," said Mathews, who will teach science. "It's kind of cool to be in something brand new and the kids realize that.
"The local `Y' has been developing some kids, now we'll see if they're ready for people like Gulf, Springstead and East Lake."

Bulldogs First Up in Big Games, St. Petersburg Times, by John C. Cotey, September 12, 1997
This week, Pasco football coach Ricky Thomas was spending his early evening strolling through the aisles at Scotty's.
Among the nuts and bolts and 4x4s, a woman approached Thomas. She had a question: How are you going to stop Ryan Pickett?
She then proceeded - Ryan Pickett this and Ryan Pickett that, Bulldogs this and Bulldogs that. Thomas just smiled. A fan, approaching a coach, in between shopping, concerned about a prep football game.
This just in: Pasco at Zephyrhills is still a big game.
"I think so," Thomas said. "There are a lot of people in the community talking about it. It's been picking up all week."
Since last year's realignment brought Hernando, Zephyrhills and Pasco back together in a district that used to be one of the best in the state, much has been made of the impending Leopards-Pirates tilt. Many inches have been devoted to the rivalry's past, and the rivalry's future. Big games have been chronicled, big plays fawned over.
And off on the side has been Zephyrhills - the district stepchild.
Has the attention on Hernando's presence taken some of the gleam off tonight's game, reducing it to just a key game rather than a big game?
"I don't think so," Thomas said. "I don't think so. That's a good question. I just think we have two games that will be the game. (This) is one of them."
Thomas isn't about to write off tonight's game as anything less than it always is - a war. Sure, no one's season comes to a crashing halt. And with Hernando on the schedule, you can argue that it won't even be the most attended game or the most important one.
It all depends on how you look at it, and Thomas looks at it like any other coach.
"This game could be for the district championship," he said. "Depending on how things pan out, the Hernando game could mean nothing. Last year we lost to Jesuit (in the fifth game) and it ended up costing us the district championship. This could be the same way.
"We're not taking this game lightly. We're taking it as the district championship."
As is Zephyrhills. Say what you will about Hernando, but the Leopards are not ranked - Pasco (No. 6) and Zephyrhills (No. 9) are.
Which game is bigger again?
"We can't think about Hernando or anybody else," Zephyrhills coach Tom Fisher said. "Right now, it doesn't get any bigger than (tonight's) game."
It's early, but Thomas said this game is bigger than those in recent memory, which is hard to imagine because the past two games were great ones - in 1995 Shawn Daughtery threw a touchdown pass with 2:40 left to lift the Bulldogs to a win, and last year Jeremy Gude kicked the Pirates to a win with 9 seconds left.
But an emotional defeat this early in the season with another hugely emotional game on the horizon could prove disastrous.
"Personally, I have different feelings about this (year's game)," Thomas said. "It's that old-time feeling again. It feels great to have everyone back in the district."
Let's not forget - Zephyrhills had a rivalry with Hernando too. In 1993, the three teams all tied for the district lead. On a Monday, they played off in a Kansas tiebreaker and Zephyrhills beat Hernando 7-0, and Hernando beat Pasco 8-6.
It has been that kind of district when the three share it.
And no one pair of schools has the patent on big games. Sure, Pasco-Hernando will be huge. Hernando-Zephyrhills will be large.
Tonight? It's time to set off the first of three explosions.
"We think it's going to be a gun fight," said Thomas, "and when you go to a gun fight, you don't bring a pocketknife."

Marching Past Stereotypes, St. Petersburg Times, by Adrianne Sell, September 10, 1997
The Citadel has nothing on us. While that southern military academy struggles publicly to bring women into the fold, a quiet revolution has taken place in the southeastern corner of Pasco County. In Zephyrhills High School's Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, young women are not only involved; one is in charge.
For the first time in the program's 13-year history, a young woman, 17-year-old high school senior Natalie Yonkof, has been appointed battalion commander. According to the Junior ROTC adviser, 1st Sgt. Ronald Reece, she is quite a remarkable young woman.
"When I first came here three years ago to teach the program, the first student to greet me was Natalie. This skinny little 9th-grader walks right up to this man dressed in formal uniform and says, `Hi, I'm Natalie Yonkoff.' The rest is history," Reece said. "She's worked really hard right from the beginning ... and finished in the top 10 per cent of 1,800 kids in the state. She scored above all her peers by outworking them. Natalie's been on the honor roll all four quarters and is involved in every community activity you can imagine.
"She has a lot of talent and enthusiasm and is a natural leader. Nobody deserved this honor more."
As battalion commander, Natalie must take responsibility for the almost 225 students in one of ZHS' largest ROTC programs ever. Not bad for a girl who in middle school had to enter the drop-out prevention program.
"She has come a long way in the program, and I believe the Junior ROTC really helped her find the discipline and purpose she needed in her life," said Col. Mike Pilvinsky, program instructor. "In fact, I think the main reason students enter this program is to give more structure to their lives. Some go on to military life, many do not. But they all come away with a sense of unity, respect and belonging. We have about 81 young women and 140-plus young men this year, and they all respect Natalie tremendously."
Despite all the fuss, Natalie is not one to bask in the spotlight. She's modest and genuine, with manners that would make any mother proud.
"I never really understood what being in ROTC would mean to me," Natalie said."I just saw it on a course list and decided to take it. This is my fourth year in the program, and I really enjoy it. It's not only fun; I've learned a lot of discipline and respect for other people. I really don't want a lot of attention; I just want to be treated like any other battalion commander."
Being treated like any other battalion commander means that all 220-plus students in the Zephyrhills High Junior ROTC, regardless of sex, age or rank, take orders from Natalie. They defer to her judgment in most matters relating to the program, and she is responsible for how well they accomplish their training.
"I feel very proud," Natalie said. "But having all that responsibility is very stressful, especially being the first female."
Ron Reece is an 18-year-old senior doing his first stint as battalion executive officer in the Junior ROTC program. He has been in the program three years and is the son of 1st Sgt. Reece. Enthusiasm for the program is written all over his face.
"You feel a great deal of pride," he said. "You learn respect, manners and discipline. Plus, it's exciting to be in parades and notice how people look up to you. Besides, the uniforms and medals are excellent."
Heather Avingee has been in the ROTC program for three years and is delighted that a young