FOCUS Magazine

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from the team at FOCUS! Have a safe and happy independence day!

06/26/2025

This month's Rising Star, sponsored by Jarrett Scott Ford, is Hayden Compton.

Hayden Compton, a wheelchair racer representing Durant High School, has quickly become a name to watch in the local adaptive sports scene. Competing in the 100, 200, 400, and 800-meter races, Compton’s dedication and talent were on full display at the recent FHSAA State Track & Field Competition, where he secured a gold medal in the 800m and three silvers in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events.

Compton's journey into wheelchair track began five years ago after a move to Las Vegas.

“After moving to Las Vegas in second grade, my adapted PE teacher sent home a flyer for an event called Paralympic Night,” said Compton. “My family and I went, I tried several sports, and track immediately felt natural because my whole family runs.”

His rigorous training ritual reflects his commitment: a dynamic warm-up, intense main workouts involving sprint intervals, endurance pushes, or technical drills, and consistent strength training, all capped with a focused cool-down.

Reflecting on his state championship success, Compton expressed immense pride in achieving a personal record, a testament to his season-long efforts.

“I felt proud of my performance,” said Compton. “I had worked all season to earn a personal record, and achieving it at states was incredibly rewarding. I do wish more athletes competed in the wheelchair division, and I hope that changes soon.”

His unwavering support system includes his family, who are his biggest cheerleaders, and a network of coaches and teammates who constantly push him to excel. Coach Lane at Durant and Carlos with HCAS, along with his former Las Vegas coach, provide invaluable guidance. Compton draws inspiration from adaptive sports pioneers Daniel Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden, who exemplify the possibilities for adaptive athletes.

Looking ahead, Compton’s ambitions are clear: continued state-level victories, collegiate competition, and ultimately, representing Team USA at the Paralympics. Beyond the track, he’s an active member of the Durant community, playing wheelchair basketball and serving on the Student Council. At home, he enjoys relaxing in the pool.

Compton is passionate about spreading awareness for wheelchair track, urging anyone with a physical disability to explore the sport, highlighting programs like HCAS that offer opportunities for kids to try racing chairs and compete in ambulatory divisions. His goal is to foster a more inclusive and visible landscape of adaptive sports.

06/25/2025

ON STANDS NOW: The June issue of FOCUS features Jenkins Roofing Tampa, Inc. As hurricane season gets underway, the professionals at Jenkins Roofing Tampa are ready to assist residential and commercial businesses with all their roofing needs before and after the storm. Owners Tanner Jenkins and Karen Ruel take you behind the scenes of JRT. Inside, we feature the four recipients of the Officer of the Year award from this year's East Hillsborough Law Enforcement Association Appreciation Dinner. Pick your issue up now or read it online at: https://focusplantcity.com/focus-plant-city-24-06/

05/22/2025

Sean Cooper is this month's Rising Star, sponsored by Jarrett Scott Ford.

Sean Cooper's journey in baseball began unconventionally, sparked by playing on his brother's Wii at age two. This early interest soon transitioned to the real field, and by age six, Sean was playing in Plant City Little League under the guidance of his first coach, Donnie Newman. Sean’s dedication and talent led him through Pinecrest Little League, Pinecrest's All Stars, and South Brandon Little League.

Sean and Newman’s connection continued years later when, in 2022, Sean joined the Plant City OutKasts, a travel ball team also coached by Newman. Joining the OutKasts wasn't just about honing baseball skills; the OutKasts foster a leadership culture, encouraging their players to excel not only on the diamond but also within their schools and the wider community. The team's strong camaraderie was highlighted by their invitation to the 12U Tournament in Cooperstown, New York, in June 2024 – a memorable experience for Sean.

"Going to Cooperstown last summer was really fun and made our team feel like even more of a family than we do already," Sean shared.

Sean's versatility on the field is notable. Primarily a catcher, he is also a capable closing or backup pitcher. His pitching prowess was evident in April 2025 at the Grand Slam Super Regional, where his fastball reached a top velocity of 69 miles per hour, an impressive feat for a 13U player.

Donnie Newman said, “Coaching Sean since his very first year of baseball has been an absolute privilege. He may be quiet at first, but he lets his game do the talking. With a heart of gold and a relentless drive, I’ve watched him grow, not just as an athlete and teammate but as a remarkable young man. No matter which path he takes, his future is undeniably bright.”

As his family relocates to Georgia, Sean's time with the Plant City OutKasts has concluded. He values the experiences and relationships gained with the team, especially his continued mentorship with Coach Newman. He is now looking forward to continuing his baseball journey with a new team in Georgia.

05/14/2025

05/11/2025

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at FOCUS! Enjoy your day!

05/01/2025

Plant City Entertainment, Inc. is hosting a ticket giveaway for this weekend's showings of Farce of Habit! Click PCE's post to enter to win!

Update: The winner of our giveaway Is Lorelei Robertson! Check your inbox for details on how to claim your ticket. Thank you all!

‼️GIVEAWAY‼️

🎭 We have just THREE 3️⃣ shows left for Farce of Habit, tomorrow through Sunday! To celebrate this awesome show, we have two tickets to give away to either the Friday or Saturday show at 8pm!

🏆 To enter, simply:

1. Like our post
2. Tag who you want to bring in the comments.
3. Share the post to your page or story!

🎟️ A winner will be chosen from random entries on Facebook and Instagram. Enter by 4pm today, May 1, for a chance to win!

Plant City Entertainment, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

04/29/2025

This month's Rising Star, presented by Jarrett Scott Ford, is Rease Marchese.

“I play for my club team all year, and sometimes I have to miss it for my high school matches if they fall on the same day,” said Rease. “Many times through my high school season, I’ll have a practice or game that falls on the same day, so I run from one team to another!”
“I’ve always really liked tennis and how you can play it single or in doubles,” said Rease. “In doubles, you get to strategize and learn to work in tandem with someone.”
Rease’s grandfather also played tennis and encouraged her to try it when she was growing up. Her older sister went on to play in high school, and it was then that Rease realized she’d have to work hard if she wanted to continue playing.
“I saw how competitive it was in high school, and it was then that I knew I wanted to do better,” said Rease.
She started practicing 3 times a week, and by her freshman year in high school, she had been playing in school and club leagues.
“I play for my club team all year, and sometimes I have to miss it for my high school matches if they fall on the same day,” said Rease. “Many times through my high school season, I’ll have a practice or game that falls on the same day so I run from one team to another!”
This season, Rease has focused on her serving and all-around game.
“Our team has only lost 1 district match this year, so it’s looking good for us,” said Rease. “I’ve already qualified for districts for the first time, and I’m excited to see how I play there and all the experience I’ll gain.”
Rease wants to finish it strong for the rest of the season and make it to regionals.
“My goal is to continue working on my game and make it as far as possible,” said Rease.
However, in the future, Rease is focused on going to school for nutritional science and playing on the club tennis team at the University of South Florida.
Check out Rease and the rest of the Strawberry Crest High School tennis team as they make their run in the post-season tournament!

04/20/2025

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Easter Sunday! Plant City, thank you for supporting FOCUS for 24 years! We look forward to many more! ❤️

03/11/2025

The Florida Strawberry Festival announced a record-breaking attendance for this year's event with over 650,000 guests. Congrats to our friends at the Festival for a safe and success 11-day event. We appreciate the hospitality given to media partners like FOCUS.

THANK YOU to each and every one of you who chose to experience with us! We consider it an honor to host you and your families and hope you made sweet memories together. Thank you to our vendors, ride provider, volunteers, partners, board of directors, and staff for their tireless efforts that made this Festival the best one yet. We can't wait to see you February 26-March 8 for 🍓