LAND O'LAKES, Fla. — Sports are a big part of the high school experience for a lot of students, and now, Pasco County School Board members have started the process of adding athletics programs to two magnet high schools—Wendall Krinn Technology High School and Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.
The schools haven’t had any sports team of their own because of a rule made by the Florida High School Athletic Association. The rule changed recently, and now, schools can offer some sports, while still allowing students to play the sports they don’t offer at other schools.
Some Pasco County high school principals say sports play a big role in students’ success.
The brand new Angeline Athletics Complex is all for students at the Angeline Academy of Innovation, the first Pasco County magnet school to offer team sports.
“Sports offer students opportunities for college scholarships and to round out their experience in a way that classroom experiences and club experiences do not,” said Joanne Glenn, the school’s principal.
Glenn says many families didn’t like having to choose between the academics at a magnet school or playing sports at a traditional school, and she says the two should go hand in hand.
“There are a lot of opportunities for students to practice skills that they need to be successful in the future in the world of work, things like tenacity, grit, teamwork, accountability, not to let a group down when you’re working toward a shared goal,” she said.
Chris Dunning, Ed.D., Principal of Wendall Krinn Technical Magnet School, agrees. The district is now in the process of adding team sports there, too.
“We have awesome cyber security teams, and robotics teams but a lot of the time, their competitions aren’t in the area, or it’s not something you can really watch with the cyber patriots as much, so this really gives them a chance to cheer on a team, and actually be there, and present for it, which will help build the culture,” said Dunning.
It’s that culture that Justin Pelliccia remembers the most about his time in Pasco County Schools. Now, he’s the Athletics Manager at the Angeline Sports Complex.
“It teaches them how to win, but it also teaches them how to lose and learn from that, so just so many life lessons to have them take with them as they begin their journey as adults,” he said.
The lessons learned on the field are the lessons students will continue to use throughout their life.
Dunning says he’s working with the district for final board approvals, and they have a year to plan what sports they’ll offer and hire coaches. The goal is to start the athletic department in 2026.