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Locals Win National BMX Titles

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

Four local riders won national BMX championships, led by Tyler Klumper, who won three, at the Redline Cup East Finals in Kettering, Ohio, on Sept. 7.

Klumper swept the under-10 expert division, winning both the normal and cruiser division, and he also added the open division title to claim his third title. Klumper's success was groundbreaking for the East division.

It was the first time Klumper had won at the meet. He said while he was nervous entering the event, he was able to relax once he took his first title.

"I was very excited, because I've never done that before," Klumper said. "That's the biggest race I've ever won."

Klumper added a pair of state under-10 titles in Oldsmar on Sunday.

"There has never been anyone on the east coast that has won all three like that," rider parent Ken Lacroix said. "Usually people will win one or two, but to win three is basically unheard of."

Klumper was the only multiple title winner from the Bay area, but he was joined on the top of the winner's podium by three others. Blake Sawyer won the under-13 intermediate division, while Andre Lacroix took first in the under-10 intermediate, edging Ryan Nenno into third place, and Gavin Powell won the under-6 intermediate division. Sawyer also took a pair of under-14 division state titles last weekend.

Other local riders also had podium finishes. Dalton Pedoda finished third in the under-13 intermediate division, while Mazin Shehayeb and Jackson Gentry finished second in the under-9 expert and under-5 novice divisions, respectively. Shehayeb and Gentry also won state titles.

Other finalists were Eric Hunter, who finished fourth in the under-14 division; and Austin Focht, who finished seventh in the under-9 expert division.

Because of the national nature of the event, races went on despite rain that might ordinarily have caused postponements.

"It was a real nice track, but we got a lot of rain on Friday," Ken Lacroix said.

Despite the conditions, Lacroix said the experience was exciting for all the riders, giving them a chance to experience the atmosphere they had seen at the X Games and Olympic BMX events during the summer. He added that for these riders, events like that are the ultimate goal.

"These guys are all looking to be that guy in the X Games or the Olympics," Lacroix said. "These kids are all looking to do that, they want to be that kid."

HCU Advances To National Tourney

Hillsborough County United's boys under-15 team got a pair of goals by Nick Patterson to advance to the United Soccer League's Super-Y National Championship in November with a 2-0 win against Orlando FC on Sunday.

Needing only a point to advance from Pool A of the Southeast Division, HCU controlled the bulk of the game, according to Coach Eric Sims, as Patterson gave them the lead 20 minutes into the first half.

"They really didn't threaten too much," Sims said of Orlando. "We pretty much had the majority of the possession. We played well, the ref called the game pretty tight, so it didn't get into a physical match. It wasn't the most exciting game, but we did what we had to do."

It will be the second trip to the finals for the under-15s, who reached the tournament two years ago as an under-13 squad. Sims said the team missed the opportunity to compete at the event last season, and that proved a motivation for the team to get back this year.

"It gives them a chance to play for a national championship," Sims said. "That's why you play in the league. You want to play good games but ultimately the goal is to qualify for nationals. It's a good thing for the boys."

Eisch Wins Drive, Chip And Putt Championship

Robby Eisch of Tampa won the under-8 division of the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip and Putt National Championship in Celebration, winning the title in his first appearance.

Eisch edged Charlie Reiter of Palm Desert, Calif., A.J. Beechler of Pinehurst, N.C., and the rest of the field of 16 players at Celebration Golf Club. Eisch had qualified for the tournament by winning the regional championship in April.

Freedom High sophomore Matt Camara couldn't find the same success as Eisch in the under-14 division, finishing outside the top three.

Highlights of the event can be seen Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. on the Golf Channel.

Bolts Lose In Regular Season Opener

The Tampa Bay Bolts junior hockey team struggled on the power play, and fell 5-3 to the Palm Beach Predators in its opening game of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League South Division on Saturday afternoon despite outshooting the Predators 61-35.

The Bolts went 0-for-14 with a man advantage in a penalty-filled game. Trailing 2-0 on goals by Palm Beach's Colin Williamson and Justin Jantzen, William Royal scored the Bolts' first goal in league play to halve the deficit, but the Bolts couldn't continue their rally.

Jordan Disney scored 45 seconds into the third period to restore the Predators' two-goal advantage, and Jeffrey Robinson added a power-play goal to make it 4-1.

Former Wesley Chapel High player Barnie Skobis pulled a goal back for the Bolts, but Anthony Annunziata put the game away for Palm Beach less than a minute later.

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243 or at nmurray@tampatrib.com. Keyword: Youth Sports, for more news, notes, and live-game stories

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