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Plant High Takes A Bow

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: January 17, 2009

TAMPA - The water tower above Plant High proclaims the school "Home of State Champions."

Now the school has something hanging on the Tampa municipal office building.
Mayor Pam Iorio and Councilman John Dingfelder recognized Plant High's state champion football, swimming and volleyball teams at a ceremony in the city hall plaza on Friday.

The Plant band, cheerleaders and dancers gathered with parents as each team was honored.

A banner reading "Congratulations Panthers" - signed by every team member - was hoisted by a Tampa Fire Rescue truck and put on the building. "We are so proud of the Plant Panthers," Iorio said. "So many young people at Plant are great academically and athletically, and it's hard to do both."

Thursday, all three teams were recognized for having the highest grade averages in Hillsborough County.

In December, the football team won its second state title in three years. The volleyball team won its third-consecutive state championship, and the girls 200 free relay swim team won the gold medal at the state meet with an all-American time that set a new school record.

"These are great young people," Iorio said. "These are lifetime memories for these people. We are a city of champions."

Just as swim coach Gil Gonzalez and volleyball coach Leanna Taylor did in their speeches, football coach Robert Weiner pointed out the support of the parents and the community as one of the main reasons the school continues to produce winners.

"There's no way we would stand here and be champions today unless we're all in," Weiner said. "At Plant High School, we are all in together."

By the time Weiner wrapped up his speech, which was similar to one of his pregame speeches with his voice increasingly amplified, everyone in attendance was worked into a frenzy, including the mayor.

"I don't know about you, but I'm ready to go out and kick some butt," master of ceremonies Jack Harris said.

After commendations were handed out to each team, honorees craned their necks as the Tampa Fire Rescue truck raised its ladder to put the banner up on the building. The last time a banner went up was for the Tampa Bay Rays' World Series appearance.

Plant senior Orson Charles celebrated the raising of the banner by grabbing a pair of pompoms from one of the cheerleaders and dancing as the band played.

"This is really great," Charles said. "All the hard work we've been through, all the yelling we had to listen to - it feels good. We work hard at Plant, and we'll be able to look back at this as a special memory."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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