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Thanks To Football, Armwood Gets Rubber Track

By BILL WARD The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 11, 2007

TAMPA - Armwood football coach Sean Callahan could have kept the money to buy any number of things for the Hawks' new field house that will be built over the next year - weightlifting and video equipment, washing machines, ice makers or even furniture.

However, Callahan looked at the aging asphalt track that surrounds his football field and decided to take the money he had remaining from the Hawks Nest Capital Campaign and give it to his track coaches for a new, all-weather track.

"We want our track and field program to be where our football program is," Callahan said. "There's no doubt the track team benefits our football team, and we want our school to have the best athletic facility we can have."

Through private donations and fundraising drives, Armwood amassed approximately $600,000 to build the new field house. Callahan said there was $32,500 remaining from that campaign. When he learned of an impending deadline to attach the funds to a scheduled repaving of the Hawks' asphalt track, he opted to put it toward a new rubber track, which is expected to be completed this summer.

The school district typically spends between $30,000 and $40,000 for an asphalt resurfacing and, like other public schools in Hillsborough County that recently have landed rubber tracks, the district allows that amount to be used toward an all-weather resurfacing - if the difference can be made up with private funds.

Combined with a $21 million renovation of Armwood slated for 2009 and an additional wing that is planned to be built, Principal Marc Hutek says the Hawks' campus and athletic facilities will be undergoing a major transformation.

"Three years from now, we're going to have a beautiful facility in and out," Hutek said. "We're going to have one of the premier athletic facilities, focusing on the track and athletic field house, and it will put us on the map in a way that very few schools have an opportunity to do."

Wharton Athletes Celebrate Choices

TAMPA - Earlier in the week, Wharton High recognized 10 of its student-athletes on the school's morning television show for making their college choices.

While some athletes previously had announced their choices, others were glad to finally break the news.

Football players Joel Miller and Terrell Hicks decided on their future, with Miller committing to The Citadel and Hicks to Glenville State College in West Virginia.

Miller was selected to The Tampa Tribune's All-County second team after finishing the season with 1,291 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hicks, a defensive back, led the Wildcats with three interceptions.

"I'm excited," Miller said. "It's a good school academically and the coaches said I might be able to play [as a freshman]. I just have to thank [assistant coach Craig Rainey] for helping me."

Miller, also presented with the Hillsborough County Golden Helmet Award, said he'll leave for South Carolina on May 28.

Both players were eager to sign because they were unable to join their teammates on National Signing Day in February.

"They think signing day is a big day. It's good for blue chippers, but a lot of NFL players were signing after signing day," Wharton coach David Mitchell said.

Baseball player Stephen Goforth also announced his college choice to be Hillsborough Community College.

Other athletes recognized were baseball players Derrick Stultz (University of South Florida) and Vinny Lally (Yale), softball standout Kendall Arnold (USF), golfer Michele Bermudez (USF), girls soccer player Alex Regester (Converse College), track star Teona Rogers (Florida State) and basketball player Christine Raffoul (St. Petersburg College).

Nick Williams

BULLS' BROWN SIGNS: Bloomingdale senior basketball player Tommy Brown has signed a letter-of-intent to play for Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill. Brown, a 6-foot-5 forward, averaged 13 points and six rebounds per game for the Bulls.