Erin's Danceworks shines in several competitions

The Erin's Danceworks Competition Team has taken part in several meets over the past few months, with exceptional results.

At the DanceAmerica region competition in Tampa on Feb. 15, the team won numerous awards, including the Spirit Award. The team also won the Teacher's Choice Award for it dance, "Scorpions," performed by the senior dancers.

Erin's dominated the petite/junior division, sweeping the female solo awards at the meet, with Jadah Carrera winning top honors for her routine, "Hit Me with a Hot Note." Taylor Madsen, Cassandra Rober, Makenna Messaris and Gracie Santalucia took runnerup honors, in order from first to fourth.

Erin's also won the high score for duos or trios, high score for small groups, high score for large groups, high score for line and high score for mega-production. Carrera earned best technical execution at the contest, and the team won best emotional execution. With instructors Erin Messaris, Kelli Simpson and Heather Carter leading the way, the team also won best choreography.

In the intermediate/senior division, the Erin's team won high score for large groups, high score for line, high score for mega-production and the best precision award.

In both the petite/junior ("Everybody Says Don't") and intermediate/senior ("Scorpions") divisions, Erin's earned the overall top score in the competition.

At the Starbound National Talent regional competition in Orlando on March 1 and 2, Erin's also cleaned up, coming away with the overall high-scoring production for "Scorpions."

In addition, the team had the high-scoring junior soloist (Makenna Messaris), the high-scoring junior duo/trio ("Everybody Says Don't"), the high-scoring senior group ("The Raven"), the high-scoring senior production ("Scorpions") and the Junior Photogenic Award (Bella Mann).

Santalucia won the Junior Solo Judge's Award, while Roxy Soares won the Teen Solo Judge's Award. The Senior Duo/Trio Judge's Award went to Erin's for "I'll Stand By You," and Gabriela Rivera and Erik-Lee Troche each won the Senior Solo Judge's Award.

Group Judge's Awards went to Erin's for "Tactical Dominance" in the junior division and "Breath of Life" in the senior division.

Ten dancers on the competition team earned elite gold honors, including Gabi Albanese, Jasmyn Benton, Jadah Carrera, Abby Gooch, Skye Macklin, Makayla Messaris, Makenna Messaris, Cassandra Rober, Erik-Lee Troche and Riley Wilson.

Thirteen others won high golds: Grace Andress, Alyssa Bohnsack, Tazia Bazarian-Chestine, Ally Chapman, Rebecca Lebo, Taylor Madsen, Bella Mann, Ivi Ramirez, Gabriela Rivera, Gracie Santalucia, Jessica Sheridan, Roxy Soares and Kayla Van Ness). One earned gold: April Zee.

HERNANDO WRESTLING CLUB: The Hernando Wrestling Club, which meets in the Hernando High School wrestling room in Brooksville, practices from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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Coaches David and Daniel Pritz teach youth ages 7 and older. The program utilizes positive reinforcement, camaraderie and fun as the basis for learning. Members of the Hernando High team also participate and coach.

The club includes members from several high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.

For information, send email to hernandowrestling@gmail.com.

HI-C FOOTBALL CAMP: The Hernando County Parks and Recreation Department will hold the fourth annual Horace "Hi-C" Copeland Football Camp on May 17 at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.

From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., children ages 5 to 16 will take part in the noncontact football clinic. The camp will include interactive football drills, life lessons and lunch. It is free to the first 300 registrants, and shirts can be preordered for $10.

The event is hosted by Horace Copeland, a former professional football player who played wide receiver in the NFL for seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders.

Visit horacecopeland.com for information and to register. Contact the Hernando County Recreation Department at (352) 754-4031 or visit hernandocounty.us/parks_rec.

The Hernando County Parks and Recreation Department and Horace Copeland are also on Facebook.

NATURE COAST TENNIS FOUNDATION DOUBLES TOURNAMENT: The Nature Coast Tennis Foundation will host its third annual Cinco de Mayo Adult Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament on May 3 and 4 at Delta Woods Park in Spring Hill.

The event will feature two divisions. The B Division is for players rated lower than a 7.0 combined, while the A Division is for those rated 7.0 or higher combined. The cost is $20 per player; the event is open to all adults, including non-USTA members.

For information, call Phil Zee at (352) 263-9546 or Karen Lund at (352) 585-3733. Interested players may also send email to nctf@tampabay.rr.com or visit nctf.usta.com for registration forms.

SPRINGSTEAD BASKETBALL CAMP: The Springstead High School boys basketball program will hold its second annual All-Skills Basketball Camp this summer.

The Eagles' coaching staff will conduct two sessions, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The dates are from June 16 to 19 and July 14 to 17.

Open to all boys and girls entering second to seventh grades, the cost is $80 per camper or $65 for children of Hernando County School Board employees. There are discounts for multiple children and multiple sessions. All campers must bring their own lunch.

For information, contact Tim Plumadore at (352) 797-7010, ext. 251, or plumadore_t@hcsb.k12.fl.us.

'GIRLS NIGHT OUT' TRAP SHOOTING: The Hernando Sportsman's Club, 16121 Commercial Way, north of Weeki Wachee, has a new "Girls Night Out" trap shooting group.

The women's group will meet from 5 to 9 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the trap range.

For those who have never tried trap shooting or don't have their own shotgun, the club will provide 20-gauge shotguns for the group to use. Those using a club shotgun should bring at least two boxes of 20-gauge ammunition, ear plugs and eye protection. Participants may use their own guns.

There is a trap range fee of $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers. The fee covers two games of trap. Everyone is welcome.

For information, call the club at (352) 597-9931 or visit hernandosportsmansclub.com. The club also has a Facebook page.

Contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.