The Farragut Experience features accomplishments and stories from our community of students, faculty and staff, school leadership, alumi, and more. They feature our Lower School, Upper School, and Boarding School experiences.
Football team featured in district spotlight by Tampa Bay Times
/in The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van CurenWith a majority of Admiral Farragut’s impact players new to the team, the Blue Jackets will spend much of the preseason getting to know each other.
In the offseason, four-star recruit Craig Watts transferred in from Gibbs. Teammates L’Dre Barnes, an offensive lineman, and Dorian Williams, a 310-pound nose guard, followed soon after. Matt Landers, a quarterback/wide receiver, moved over from Lakewood — as did teammates Zion Roland (receiver) and John Waller (fullback/defensive lineman). And perhaps the biggest transfer was quarterback Austyn Causey, a junior who played two years at St. Petersburg.
“The biggest thing for us is getting to know each other,” coach Ryan Hearn said. “You look at Northside Christian, all those guys have played together for a long time. (Head coach) Mike (Alstott) has done a great job of building a family atmosphere. For us, we need to spend time with each other, on and off the field, to become a better team.”
Admiral Farragut needed to become a better team in order to survive in this district. Northside Christian won eight regular-season games in 2014 and made the playoffs. The Mustangs graduated very few starters and also benefitted from some transfers. Indian Rocks Christian was 12-1 last season and played in the Class 2A state final. While the Golden Eagles lost talent on both sides of the ball, there are still plenty of returners to make them competitive again.
The Blue Jackets (4-5) finished behind Clearwater Central Catholic and Calvary Christian in Class 3A-5. The move to Class 2A seemed like it might help their postseason chances, but the opponents are just as tough.
“You’ve got two weeks in October where everyone’s going to be on edge during (district) game week,” Hearn said. “You’ve got games before that that are important for the kids and everything, but those two district games mean everything.”
The Blue Jackets do not lack skill players. Causey likely will become the starting quarterback. That will move Landers to wide receiver, where he played most of the time for Lakewood’s junior varsity. Donnie Crum, who started at running back last season, is also back.
Written by Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Coach Barnhill was named as the Coach of the Year for Boys and Girls Track
/in The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van CurenCoach Phil Barnhill — Coach Barnhill was named as the Coach of the Year for Boys and Girls Track by the Tampa Bay Times in its 2015 all-Tampa Bay track team. Coach Barnhill was instrumental in leading the girls team to its first state title in school history. Besides receiving impressive performances by Brittany and Katie at the state tournament, the team benefitted from junior Ashaunti Brown’s third place showing in the shot put and fourth in the discus, senior Charlisa Jenkins’ fifth-place showing in the shot put, and eighth grader Jazmine Alderman’s fifth place finish in the 100 M and fourth in the 200 M. The boys team finished fourth at the state finals, highlighted by Alex Gray’s gold medal in the 200 M and second place showing in the 100 M.
Katie Barnett ‘17 finished 21st in triple jump of the Nationals Championship Division
/in The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van CurenKatie was another Farragut athlete who competed in the Nationals. The rising junior finished 21st in triple jump of the Championship Division with a jump of 38 feet, 3.25 inches. Katie, who finished second in the triple jump at the FHSAA State Finals and fifth in the long jump, also competed in the long jump at Nationals, finishing ninth with a jump of 17 feet, 7.5 inches. Katie was named to the second team in the long jump and triple jump for the Tampa Bay Times all-Tampa Bay girls track team.
New aircraft, donated to aviation department
/in The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van CurenNew aircraft, Cirrus SR22 G2 Turbo, donated to aviation department

Mr. Ewing and Mr. Elliot at aviation
The Aviation department is pleased to announce the arrival of our first donated aircraft since receiving one in the 1940s. The Cirrus SR22 G2 Turbo was donated to our school by Mr. Don Elliot, who is a close family friend of a sophomore boarding cadet. Read more
Five football players sign letters of intent to play in college
/in The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van CurenFive Football Players

Pictured left to right: Dalton Collins, Cole Fagan, Coach Ryan Hearn, Aaron Rodriguez, Jestin Green, and Thomas Silver
With approximately 70 family members and friends in attendance at the Roy M. Speer Student Center, five Admiral Farragut Academy football players signed their letters of intent to play in college, including Dalton Collins, Cole Fagan, Jestin Green, Thomas Silver and Aaron Rodriguez. BlueJackets coach Ryan Hearn presided over the ceremony in which he expressed his enthusiasm for the five student-athletes who will get an opportunity to compete in college.
Charlisa Jenkins ‘15 signs to play college basketball
/in The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van Curen
On Thursday, with her grandmother, two sisters, brother, and aunt in attendance, Jenkins validated her ascent by signing a letter-of-intent for a NCAA Division I scholarship to play next season at Gardner-Webb University, located in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Allie Kowalczyk ‘14 is the first recipient of the Maj. Megan McClung ‘91N, ‘95 USNA Scholarship Award
/in Alumni, The Farragut Experience /by Jessica Van Curen
Allie was was the first recipient of the Maj. Megan McClung ’91N, ’95 USNA Scholarship Award.
“Leadership was something I yearned for. Farragut gave me the tools to naturally progress in a way I most likely wouldn’t have anywhere else. It challenged me in a way I wanted. I had always liked structure and Farragut is a place that presents that structure where you can build off a certain foundation.”
Allie Kowalczyk ‘14, who was the first recipient of the Maj. Megan McClung ’91N, ’95 USNA Scholarship Award. Megan was one of the first females to attend Farragut and the first female marine officer to lose her life in the Iraq war. The award was earned by Allie because of her commitment and dedication at Farragut.