Category: Sports

By Jorden Pompey Sports Beat Reporter

The University of South Florida Bulls are looking for redemption after being voted fifth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) pre-season rankings. The Bulls also have three pre-season AAC selections. 

East Carolina University received the top of the AAC preseason rankings, although, USF received one first-place vote. 

It has been three years since the Bulls made it to the College World Series losing in the Super Regional round to getting swept by Texas in 2021.

Last season, USF ended its campaign last in the AAC standings. Throughout the AAC Tournament, the Bulls pulled off two upsets by defeating the East Carolina Pirates in the first round and the University of Central Florida Knights in the second round.

In the semifinals, the Bulls and Pirates met again, and the Pirates swept the Bulls.

“It definitely wasn’t enjoyable to lose a lot last year and we’re looking to clean that up,” junior utility player Bobby Boser said.

Boser one of the five Bulls to make the preseason All-Conference team led the team in multiple statistical categories such as on-base percentage, triples, home runs and slugging percentage. Boser was also within the top 10 of those categories.

“Bobby Bombs, Bobby Boser, he’s Bobby Ball Player to me. He’s a great player, he brings 100% effort every single day he’s out there, he’s a perfect representation of what this program is in terms of blue-collar,” head coach Billy Mohl said. 

Mohl aims to get back to the status the Bulls had in 2021. Mohl has the 2024 schedule set up for success to become a contender in the College World Series. 

USF’s second game of the season against he University of Louisville was canceled due to inclement weather.

“We want a competitive schedule. We want a competitive chance to get to the tournament without having to win a conference tournament in terms of RPI,” Mohl said. 

The AAC has made new additions to its conference after Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston departed to join the Big 12.  Newcomers Charlotte, Rice, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Alabama-Birmingham and University Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) join after leaving Conference USA.

Teams like UTSA, Rice and FAU who have made big runs into the postseason have added competitiveness to the AAC. 

“It’s only a matter of time before they get it going again, but it’s really good baseball,” Mohl said.

Mohl is also bringing back associate head coach Alan Kunkel and assistant coach Chris Cates to the staff to bring back the winning culture. 

Kunkel was a part of the 2021 staff that made it to the Super Regional round. 

In addition to being the head coach, Mohl is taking over as the pitching coach – a position which Mohl served in for three seasons from 2015 to 2017.

“What coach Mohl always tells you is to throw strikes — good strikes — and that’s the biggest thing for success in college baseball,” junior pitcher Jack Cebert said.

Another Preseason All-AAC selection in sophomore infielder Eric Snow has made Mohl hopeful to have a stellar defense from Snow and Boser this season.

Snow led the team in assisted outs with 145 and cumulated 20 double plays last season. 

A winning atmosphere calls for a change in looks as well. The baseball stadium at Red McEwen Field has received a new paint job and has pictures of past USF players along the concourse to pay homage.

With the success that the football, track and field and men’s and women’s basketball programs, Mohl looks forward to following in those footsteps this season with the new looks of the team and stadium. 

“When I walked into the Yuengling Center, for the first time I saw that the whole student section was full, that was incredible. What they’re doing right now it’s a lot of fun,” Mohl said after he watched the first half of the men’s basketball game against FAU.

Men’s basketball head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has shown his support to the other USF sports during his tenure and has encouraged students to witness what is to come during the new baseball season. 

It seems that USF athletics are figuring things out at the right time and at the same time. As the basketball season winds down, all eyes will be locked in on the baseball, softball and track field teams.

The Bulls currently sit third in the AAC behind UTSA and East Carolina, 6-3 in conference play and 19-13 overall.

Ethan Petry is in his sophomore season at the University of South Carolina after a promising freshman year. Experts believe the Tampa Bay native may soon be destined for the MLB draft.

By: Avery Schaub Community & Culture

Ethan Petry, a standout from Wesley Chapel’s Cypress Creek High School, emerged with remarkable promise on the national baseball scene.

Graduating in 2022, Petry quickly captured attention as one of the country’s premier baseball prospects. Now, with his sights set on his sophomore season at the University of South Carolina, he continues to shine brightly on the collegiate stage. He even earned recognition on the pre-season ALL-SEC First Team following an electrifying freshman season.

Petry began his rise to prominence at Cypress Creek as a freshman in 2018, their inaugural year, and quickly showed scouts why he would be in the spotlight for years. His recruitment process began early, even committing to the University of South Florida. However, he reopened his recruitment and eventually found a home at the University of South Carolina.

At Cypress Creek, Petry batted a collective .402 with 12 home runs, 80 RBIs (runs batted in), and a 1.211 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

Before stepping onto the diamond at Cypress Creek, head baseball coach Joseph Neale had the opportunity to coach Petry as a football player at Cypress Creek Middle School. It was during this period Neale knew that Petry would be special.

“His passion, work ethic, athletic ability, and commitment to being the best at whatever he did was evident from day one,” Neale said.

Flash forward to February 19, 2023, the true freshman would start his first game at South Carolina against UMASS Lowell. Petry started the game at the designated hitter’s position, recording one hit, being a home run in 3 at-bats.

“One of the things that has helped me, is just realizing that it is just a game and enjoy every moment you have in college because it only lasts for four years. I don’t really focus on physical miscues, all of that takes care of itself if your mind is right,” said Petry, on what has helped him transition from high school to college baseball.

Petry would continue his rookie season, transitioning between right field, third base, and sometimes assuming the designated hitter role. Standing at 6’4, 230 lbs, Petry has gained comparisons to highly touted big leaguers, some comparing Petry to those such as Rockies INF Kris Bryant per Aaron Fitt’s NCAA article.

“His maturity and leadership were the most impressive things for me throughout his time at Cypress Creek. His competitiveness is unmatched compared to anyone I have ever been around,” Neale said.

The moment that ushered Petry to the spotlight came on April 6, 2023, when the Gamecocks faced off against number one-ranked LSU (Louisiana State University). Petry’s stat line consisted of two hits in three at-bats, including two home runs, one being a grand slam, and eight  RBIs. The first home run came against Paul Skenes, the first overall draft pick in the 2023 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I am blessed to have been a small part of his ongoing journey,” Neale said. “A monstrous home run or a great defensive play are awesome to see from him, but the joy and passion that he plays with is the best part for me.”

Petry would continue his impressive freshman season, earning numerous honors and awards such as the ALL-SEC First Team, and Baseball America’s Freshman All-American First Team. Petry’s final slash line was .376 (AVG)/.471 (OBP)/.733 (SLG), 1.204 (OPS) with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs.

Petry not only tallied one of the greatest freshman seasons in school history, but he also put himself inside the top 10 in Gamecock record books for home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and OPS.

Anthony Zurita, current coach and a former teammate of Petry’s, claims that as Petry advanced through high school, his IQ, skills and leadership qualities expanded in many ways, allowing everyone around him to learn from him.

“Many players have true grit, but few do it in a way that can grow them and the people around them. He can provide passion and confidence into a full team of players,” Zurita said.

Petry will not be MLB draft eligible until 2025, his junior year of college. His breakout freshman season increased his draft stock tremendously. However, many different baseball outlets such as Baseball America project Petry to be a top 10 pick with some putting him as high as a top 2 pick.

“I have the same mindset coming in as last year. Be myself, and back my teammates up… Because at the end of the day, it’s just a game that’s meant to be fun,” Petry said.

The Tampa Bay area has always been a hot spot for college sports recruitment. From baseball to basketball, hockey to football, the area is known for producing top-tier talent. Petry is making his mark and putting Cypress Creek and the area on the map.

“Having Ethan be a part of Cypress Creek was a true stepping stone to the things and success the baseball program has. Younger players got to learn from him and see his journey start here. A great example of how a high school player can define his legacy,” Zurita said.

While Petry is making a name for himself in the Carolinas, he will always have a deep connection with his hometown in the Tampa Bay area.

“I miss it every day, being back there and hanging with my guys. I still stay in touch with them (the baseball program) because they meant a lot to me, they have seen my ups and downs and know me very well,” Petry said.

---

By Timony Katon Sports Beat Reporter

In September 2019, California became the first state to allow student-athletes to receive money for their name, image, and likeness, otherwise known as NIL. This started a domino effect, as other states passed the same law, which led to the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruling in June 2021 that the NCAA can’t limit education-related benefits to athletes.

Since then, this has greatly influenced the NCAA and changed many schools’ recruiting tactics and compliance regulations. However, some schools have chosen not to be as friendly towards NIL.

This new law has already had an impact on schools around the country. It unpredictably has allowed schools to recruit athletes they may not have been able to. The University of South Florida is no different, as they have successfully recruited and signed NIL standout Sofia Chepenik to their women’s lacrosse team, which will have its inaugural season sometime in the 2023-24 academic year.

Chepenik, a USF transfer from Clemson, is the first female athlete to receive a lifetime deal with STX Women’s Lacrosse. For Chepenik, these opportunities have been surprising.

“Originally, I believed that NIL was geared more towards men’s sports like football and basketball, but companies began to realize how impactful women in sports are,” she said. “It has created many opportunities for women’s sports and how powerful we are.”

Signing an endorsement deal with a company can be intimidating for student-athletes – plenty of factors to consider, significantly affecting how an athlete’s audience can grow. Chepenik is no stranger to increased support after signing her first deal with Loot Mogul, an athlete-led sports metaverse platform, and Nerf.

“Being able to see the impact that this deal has had regarding communicating my message of women’s empowerment on a bigger scale, and if not for these NIL opportunities, I am not sure I would have reached as big of an audience,” she said.

NIL has dramatically influenced the NCAA and changed many schools’ recruiting tactics. Not only have the recruiting tactics changed, but their compliance regulations have also changed. Some schools have chosen not to be as friendly towards NIL.

The women’s lacrosse team gears up for its beginning, and coach Mindy McCord sees the benefit of college athletes embracing this new responsibility. It benefits a team to have a coach who cares about their players, and Coach McCord does just that. In a world of uncertainty, she is passionate about her players having 100% job placement after college while supporting them and utilizing these deals to their advantage.

“If Sofia wants to leverage NIL to focus on women’s empowerment or leverage her career, and that’s what she wants, then I am here to support her,” McCord said. “I am as eager to support another player whose passion and purpose is to be in the community serving.”

As South Florida looks to grow further, its athletics, embracing NIL, have contributed to why that is. McCord also suggested that, like pro athletes, hiring an agent will help college athletes navigate this NIL world.

“It gives athletes a chance to become entrepreneurs at a young age,” McCord said. “Student-athletes should use their resources to help themselves navigate if they have high goals.”

Since this recruiting cycle indicates that USF is open to athletes receiving these NIL deals, it shows what could happen for the women’s lacrosse team and USF athletics. These elements indicate a promising future for USF athletics, which stirs much excitement amongst the fans. An avid USF fan and alumni, Liam Summers, sees this as the start of something new.

“I think that if USF Athletics wants to start being a program that is taken seriously, they need to invest more into their athletes,” he said. “It’s nice that we have athletes transferring here and coming with their deals, but the teams’ coaches should take time aside to help their players get these deals. If USF becomes a place where they will help their players earn money, the higher recruited athletes may consider USF over the other schools in Florida or the country.”

This new law may help propel USF Athletics into a place it has never been. The athletic program’s reputation could be improved, and this law can help change that.

Chepenik is considered a trailblazer for women’s athletics. Her NIL deals are evidence of that, but in the long run, she may be a trailblazer for USF’s potential modified approach when recruiting athletes and how the coaches approach their jobs.

A new sport is gaining momentum: a blend of tennis & ping-pong.

---

By Aiden Connell Community Beat Reporter

Whether it is curiosity, injury recovery, or just plain boredom,  humans are constantly seeking new ways to challenge each other and have some fun. From the likes of wrestling in ancient times, to the modern-day Spikeball, a different and exciting sport seems to pop up every so often to keep the mind sharp.

As of late, a new sport has seen a boom in popularity: pickleball.

This new sport seems to be a sort of crossbreed between tennis and ping pong. The scene of pickleball may seem a bit familiar at first, involving two people at a tennis court. Each person grabs their racket, but these are a bit smaller and more solid than a usual tennis racket. They look more like oversized ping-pong paddles. The players also play on a court half the size of a normal tennis court. They appear to be hitting a neon green ball back and forth across the net, much like a tennis ball, however, the ball looks a bit different. There are holes in the ball. It’s just a bright green whiffle ball.

Pickleball was conceptualized as far back as 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, by Joel Pritchard, according to usapickleball.org. It spent its first-decade gaining traction, having tournaments arranged, and being featured in racquet sports magazines. By 1984, Pickleball had an official rule book organized by The United States Amateur Pickleball Association (U.S.A.P.A.) and soon spread in popularity around all 50 states by 1990.

However, in recent years it has been picking up speed faster than ever before. It has been the largest-growing sport in America for the past five years, according to Vermont Public. There is a reason for the sport’s sudden spike in interest. The sport offers a lot in terms of versatility. It’s easy to learn the ropes, yet difficult to master. Because of that, it is appealing to any newcomers, no matter their age.

“I’ve never heard of it, but I thought I’d have fun learning what it was,” Tyler Janssen, 25, said. “At first, I thought it was going to be a mostly older person sport, but… on a lot of competitive nights, there’s a lot of younger people. Last night when I went, the median age was probably low 30s.”

Pickleball courts are usually about half the size of a normal tennis court, seeing as the whiffle balls being hit on their ping-pong-like rackets do not travel as far as tennis balls on their woven rackets. This essentially means that anywhere that has a tennis court, may very well have a pickleball court.

There are many courts in Tampa such as HCC Tennis & Pickleball Court, Rowlett Park, and Northdale Park, as well as some closer to Oldsmar at Bicentennial Park and Tampa Bay Pickleball. The City of St. Petersburg even offers Pickleball classes at Child’s Park every second Tuesday and every fourth Friday of the month.

After attending one of these pickleball classes in St. Pete, it was easy to see how this sport can bring people together.

“We began teaching people under the City of St. Pete., three years ago during COVID. It was an amazing time because people didn’t want to be indoors, but they wanted to socialize and still have the chance to be outdoors,” pickleball instructor Jerry Downing, 70, said. “We saw people just renew their lives in physical, mental and emotional ways.”

Everyone was so kind to one another, all being eager to team up and learn the sport of pickleball, further brought together by Downing’s helpful and friendly coaching. This seems to be the redeeming quality of a lot of sports, but for pickleball specifically – the personal relationships that can be developed through friendly competition, as well as the mental vacation and light exercise that feels so needed in today’s day and age.

“I definitely have gained a ton of new friends through [pickleball],” FSU student Josh Phillips, 20, said., “A lot of people that I would have otherwise never met…It’s a lot more personal than other sports.”

Yet not only can pickleball can provide new horizons for personal endeavors, but for financial and potential business opportunities as well.

“I’m a brand ambassador for Engage Pickleball,” Phillips said. “I reached out and applied for Tallahassee, and I get to use their products and I get a discount code as well. So, I can get money off paddles and whatnot.”

It seems this new sport of pickleball has a lot to offer, as this new sport combines many familiar aspects of a few different sports, making it easily digestible and appealing to novices. It can help people develop new and personal relationships with one another and even may lead to business deals. Yet it has a way to go, as it still is not an Olympic Sport. According to pickleball paddle manufacturer Paddletek, the sport’s fast-growing popularity is lending people high hopes for its inclusion by 2030.