Stefano Trompeo's No. 14 jersey is retired

This article appeared in the Pasco edition of the St. Petersburg Times on Dec. 11, 1998.

Stefano Trompeo was only going to be in New Port Richey a few hours Tuesday night, but Gulf High coach Steve Feldman made it memorable.

During halftime of the Bucs' 57-37 loss to Ridgewood, Trompeo, who played for Gulf the previous three seasons, and now is a freshman engineering student at the University of Florida, had his No. 14 jersey retired.

Feldman said he believes it is the first number retired at Gulf.

"It's an exciting feeling," said Trompeo, who had to drive back to Gainesville after the game because of exams. "It's quite an honor."

Trompeo owns five school records: career starts (85), consecutive free throws made (24), career three-pointers (124), three-pointers in a season (63) and season free-throw percentage (.836).

He also scored 1,027 points and had a 4.2 grade-point-average.

"He is a credit to the school," Feldman said. "He did everything right."

Well, almost everything. Trompeo said he didn't prepare a speech and stumbled somewhat in expressing his gratitude.

"It was definitely worth the trip," he said.