From the links to the lanes, Central Florida’s individuals and teams thrived during the fall sports season.
Lake Mary maintained its status as the golf capital of the state with Lake Mary and Lake Mary Prep’s girls golf teams delivering state titles.
Lake Mary Prep took gold for the third straight season while the Rams won their fifth championship in the last 10 years.
Locals continued to reign supreme in the 1A boys division, with Windermere Prep taking the team title as Circle Christian’s Eugene Hong won individual gold.
A fresh face also emerged at the state golf finals as Lake Nona’s Erika Smith earned medalist honors in Class 3A for the Lions.
Central Florida produced a clean sweep in bowling, taking all four championships.
Perennial powers – Apopka boys and Oviedo girls – earned team titles.
Circle Christian’s Leanne Vastbinder won her second individual gold while Bishop Moore’s Daniel Bolan pulled off a big upset. The two handed lefty knocked off two-time defending champion Petey Vergos for the school’s first bowling title.
Bishop Moore’s success continued in volleyball as the Hornets reigned for the third time in four years and sixth overall. That total equals First Academy, which won its sixth championship by defeating North Palm Beach Benjamin in the 4A title match.
Add cross country titles for Trinity Prep and Winter Springs senior Matthew Doyle along with swimming gold for Lake Highland’s Hayden Curley and Winter Park’s Isabella English and you get a fantastic fall for Central Florida.
And it’s not over yet.
Cocoa has already secured a spot in the 4A football championship game and the winner between Dr. Phillips and Seminole will earn a chance to play for gold in 8A.