These area high school athletes are proving once again that Central Florida is a hotbed for success.

LEXIE BLAIR, WEST ORANGE SOFTBALL
An all-state first-team selection for the last three years, Blair led the Warriors to their second straight state championship last spring. The outfielder, who started her senior season on the sideline with an injured foot, has a .543 career batting average with 110 RBIs and 110 runs scored and will continue her career at the University of Michigan.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: Do you feel like the team is capable of winning its third straight state title?

LEXIE BLAIR: Definitely. We still have a lot to work on, but it’s like that with any new team. I feel like once we get it together, we can have a third championship under our belts. I’m really confident in this team. We just have a few things to tweak.

OFM: Can you describe the feelings from winning it all the last two years?

LB: It’s definitely a great feeling, especially since I’ve grown up with most of my teammates. To be able to share it with them was an awesome feeling. It was bittersweet since some of them were leaving for college and it was my last game with them. But it’s a great thing to experience with the younger girls too.

OFM: You have delivered in clutch situations so often going back to your freshman season. How are you able to thrive under pressure? LB: Since I started softball I have always been described as humble. I don’t like to let any nerve-wracking situations get to my head, because that’s when you tend not to perform as an athlete. I think I’ve done really well with composing myself and that’s helped me in those clutch situations to not be nervous. I know how to play; I’ve been playing for a while, so it’s nothing new.

OFM: Are you excited to get to Michigan?

LB: Yes, very excited. My mom’s side of the family is from there and every year we go up for  the holidays and spend time up there. I’ve seen the campus plenty of times, but it took some  time to grow on me; I was not a Michigan fan growing up. But the atmosphere of the school drew me in. I like big schools and I like how much spirit they have at that school. The fans travel and follow the team everywhere. They have such love for the school, and the program itself is amazing, along with the coaches. It felt like home there, and having family there is making me feel comfortable moving to such a different place.

OFM: Are you prepared for Michigan winters?

LB: It will take some time to get used to, but I don’t think I’ll be completely miserable. There are some other girls from Florida going, so they can help me out and we’ll   all struggle together.

 

BRET NEILAN, TIMBER CREEK  BASEBALL
Neilan’s junior season  was an unforgettable one for him and Timber Creek. On the mound, he posted a 15-0 record and 0.84 ERA with 139 strikeouts, and he also led the Wolves in home runs and RBIs as they claimed the first state title in program history. He will focus on pitching next year at Stetson University.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: After such a memorable season last year for you and the team, is there added pressure this year?

BRET NEILAN: Everybody kind of has high hopes for me after last year. We were under the radar last year and now everybody knows about us. It’s going to be a tough spring but I think we can do it.

OFM: Did you personally feel like you were in a zone all of last season?

BN: Every time I pitched I felt like I was in a zone. The team behind me playing defense and scoring runs was great. I wasn’t going to give up more than two or three runs a game, and I knew those guys had my back.

OFM: What made you choose Stetson for college?

BN: It’s close to  home, they gave me a good offer and I was guaranteed a spot to pitch. If I picked Florida or another [big] school I probably wouldn’t have played my first two years.

OFM: What do you do for fun when you’re not playing baseball?

BN: I like to go fishing with my buddies, mostly for bass.

OFM: What’s the last concert you went to?

BN: The last concert I went to was some rap guy, Lil Pump. I usually listen to country and rap.

RYAN LE, OCOEE BOYS WATER POLO
A senior captain, Le is the leader for a program that is starting up again after a one-year absence. Two seasons ago, he had 59 goals, 22 assists and 38 steals in 11 games, and he is also an accomplished swimmer who hopes to continue his career at the United States Naval Academy.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: How long have you been playing water polo?

RYAN LE: This is only my second season because last season got canceled. I dabbled a little bit in club, but my first season was two years ago. Some of my friends on the swim team, they were seniors at the time, were recruiting people for water polo. So I decided to join.

OFM: Did you like it right away?

RL: It was a different experience than swimming, that’s for sure. The swimming part is simple, but I wasn’t used to all the stuff with the ball. But once I started playing I liked the team aspect and it was a lot of fun.

OFM: You have a chance to set school records for career goals, assists and steals. What would  that mean to you?

RL: I don’t think it’s that big of a deal; they’re just numbers. I don’t play the game to set any records, but if it happens along the way, it would be pretty cool.

OFM: Has attending the Naval Academy been a long-time goal of yours?

RL: Yes. We had this program back in middle school called CMP—College Mentorship Program—and me and some friends were deciding what college we wanted to go to. I always wanted to be a Navy SEAL; that was my dream. I learned the Naval Academy ran that program, and it was definitely something I wanted to do. It was a pretty far-off dream until I got to high school, but my grades were good, I started swimming … and everything aligned.

O FM: What do you like to do when you’re not playing sports?

RL: My mom would be happy if I said studying. I really enjoy video games like “Rocket League” and “Counter-Strike,” that kind of stuff. I also play some piano; I dabble here and there. It’s a fun recreational thing. And I also like hanging out with friends, normal teenager stuff.

AVION DIX,  COLONIAL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
A budding star on the track, Dix qualified for regions in the 110 and 300 hurdles as a sophomore and hopes to take the next step this season as a junior by qualifying for states.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: When did you find out you had a talent for track?

AVION DIX: I always enjoyed running when I was younger. In sixth grade, I didn’t make the team, but in eighth grade I made the team for my long jump skills. When I got to high school, I got introduced to a lot of other events like hurdles and I really enjoyed doing the hurdles. I feel like I’ve really improved since then.

OFM: What is your routine before a race?

AD: I might talk a little bit with my teammates, but mostly I have my mind focused on my event. I usually stretch and do some drills before my event, and then I just wait. My adrenaline is rushing. OFM: What are your hobbies away from  track and field?

AD: If I’m not doing track and field, I’m usually playing basketball. I play in gym or go to the park on weekends and play pickup.

OFM: What do you like about growing up in Florida?

AD: I like being in the heat a lot. I like how it’s hot all summer; if I’m sweating and having a good workout, I feel satisfied with myself because I know I’m working hard.

OFM: Do you have a favorite teacher at Colonial?

AD: I would probably say my Spanish teacher, Mrs. [Dorales] Gonzalez Bermudez. She’s a fun teacher, she’s nice and she’s always there to help you with your work.

COLIN KELLY, BOONE BOYS LACROSSE
A senior attackman, Kelly scored a team-high 58 goals to go with four assists and 34 grounds balls as a junior. He helped lead Boone to a 14-5 record and the Metro Conference East championship.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: Is it strange that this is your final lacrosse season at Boone?

COLIN KELLY: Yeah, it is. I’ve been playing for eight years and this is one last go-round at Boone. I think this season is going to be something special. We have a lot of seniors on the team who have worked really hard and I think we’re going to make this something special.

OFM: What do you enjoy about lacrosse?

CK: My favorite part of the game is probably the speed. Lacrosse is not like any other sport; it’s not like basketball or football. It’s very fastpaced and a lot of action. You have to do a lot of thinking on your feet and you have to trust your teammates to do their job so you   can do yours.

OFM: Growing up in Florida, do you like to take advantage of all the parks? CK: Yeah, definitely. I don’t go as much as I should, but I’ve gone to multiple parks, mul- tiple times. Disney and Universal are great parks that you can go to and spend time at. My favorite ride is probably Rip Ride Rockit at Universal.

OFM: What are your other interests aside from lacrosse?

CK: I like to play basketball in the neighborhood with my friends. I also like to bass fish a lot with my friends and my brother. It takes the stress away. The biggest I ever caught was probably around 11 ½ pounds off the lake in my neighborhood.

OFM: What do you like about going to school  at Boone?

CK: It’s a great school; it has a great sense of family and tradition. Before high school I looked forward to going to Boone and getting to know everyone there. Everyone is close-knit, the teachers are great and I have a great group of friends there.

DANIELLE WITHAM, CYPRESS CREEK GIRLS LACROSSE
A junior attacker/midfielder, Witham had a terrific all-around season last year with 38 goals, 27 assists and 52 ground balls. She earned the 2017 Sophomore of the Year award.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: What are your goals for yourself and your team this season?

DANIELLE WITHAM: For the team I want to go undefeated and I really want to take my team to districts. Our team really deserves it and we’re working so hard for that goal. For myself I want to start looking at colleges and I want to be involved in the process and think about my future. I just want a great season overall.

OFM: What is a better feeling: to score a goal yourself or set up one of your teammates for a goal?

DW: As long as the ball goes in the net, I’m happy. It doesn’t matter if I scored or I passed it to somebody else. I’m not a person who will run down the f ield from one goal to the other goal, holding the ball and trying to score. If I see someone is open and they have a better shot than me, I will pass the ball and I’m just as happy if they score.

OFM: How old were you when first started playing lacrosse?

DW: I was 7. I previously lived in New York and I grew up playing lacrosse and soccer there. That’s how it took off.

OFM: Is there anything you miss about New York?

DW: I miss the snow. I love the winter and I miss seeing all of the seasons. … But I am going to the beach today, and in New York you have to wait until July or August for that.

OFM: Do you have a favorite beach in Florida?

DW: My favorites are probably Daytona and New Smyrna, but my parents love Cocoa Beach for some reason, so we always end up going there.

RACHEL BOYD, THE MASTER’S ACADEMY GIRLS TRACK
A junior, Boyd has already set several school records, including individual marks in the 100, 200 and 400. Last year she was a district champion in the 100 and a state medalist in the 400 and 4×400 relay. She has committed to playing soccer at Southeastern University.

ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE: How did you get into track?

RACHEL BOYD: I was told I was pretty fast. In PE in seventh grade I broke the middle school mile record so I was like, ‘I guess I should run track.’ That was the last time I ever ran the mile.

OFM: Is it hard to choose a favorite sport between soccer and track?

RB: I love soccer; I’ve been playing since kindergarten. The one thing I love more about track is the camaraderie with other teams and I love how supportive my teammates are.

OFM: What made you commit to Southeastern for college?

RB: I loved the campus; it’s super pretty. I also loved how Christian-based the campus is and I can see what’s most important there.

OFM: Do you know what you want  to study?

RB: Nursing. I just love helping people and I interned at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital a few months ago and I really fell in love with it.

OFM: What do you do in your free time when you’re not playing sports?

RB: I like to hang out with my friends; I like to go to Universal and go to the beach. My favorite ride is [Escape from] Gringotts. It’s like a roller coaster and a 3D ride combined.

 

STAR WATCH: More top-flight athletes to keep your eye on this season.

BASEBALL

August Haymaker, Dr. Phillips: A three-year  starter at shortstop, Haymaker is known for his sterling play in the field. He also batted .338 as a junior and had the game-winning hit to send Dr. Phillips to regionals. On top of that, he serves as the team’s closer and is expecting a big senior season before continuing his career at N.C. State.

BOYS LACROSSE

Christian Cisneros, Lake Highland: A four-year varsity player and two-time team offensive MVP, Cisneros had 48 goals and 53 assists last year as a junior and has a chance to become Lake Highland’s all-time leader in points.

Joseph Doremus, Lake Highland: An attackman who has contributed to the varsity squad since his sophomore year, Doremus had 28 goals and 15 assists in 2017. He was named an Under Armour Underclass All-American.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Hunter Hummel, Celebration: A senior thrower who specializes in the discus and shot put, Hummel claimed titles at districts and regions in the discus last year and placed second at states. He has committed to the University of South  Florida.

Alex Shields, The First Academy: Shields’ fantastic freshman season featured 1A state championships in both the 110 and 300 hurdles and a second-place finish in the long jump. He also won both hurdles events at districts and regions and was part of the district championship team in the 4×400 relay. Jordan Woodbine, The Master’s Academy: A senior captain, Woodbine is a three-time district champion and has qualified for states three years in a row. He holds individual school records in the 300 and 400 and is part of school records in the 4×100 and 4×400 as well.

BOYS WATER POLO

Luke MacDonald, Lake Nona: An accomplished swimmer, MacDonald also took home All-Metro honors last year in water polo.

BOYS TENNIS

Juan Bianchi, Olympia: Bianchi entered his junior season with a 32-1 car eer record, with the only loss coming in the 2016 state tournament. He went 17-0 as a sophomore and led the Titans to the state quarterfinals.

Patrick Sydow, Montverde: A senior, Sydow led Montverde to a 4-0 win over Miami Gulliver Prep in last year’s 2A state final for the program’s firstever state championship.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Katie Arce, Celebration: A senior who has started on the varsity team for four years, Arce is not only one of Celebra- tion’s top scorers but has also led the Storm in assists the last two seasons. She was named captain for the second straight year and will continue her career at Bentley University in Boston.

Justine Decker, Dr. Phillips: A midfielder, Decker is one of the top players in the state   and is poised for a huge junior season for the Panthers. Last year she had 68 goals and 22 assists and was outstanding on draw controls to lead Dr. Phillips to an undefeated regular season and the No. 2 ranking in the state before the Panthers ended their season in the district championship game. She is committed to Columbia University.

Akaycia Essix, Evans: During the first girls lacrosse season in school history last spring, Essix led Evans in just about every statistical category. This year she is once again the team captain and is hoping to lead the Trojans to a strong season before continuing her career in college, with Central Florida among her top choices.

Angela Rodio, Lake Nona: Rodio has compiled 25 goals during her three y ears as a varsity starter to go along with 100 ground balls and 37 draw controls.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Alexandra Cisneros, Lake Highland: Cisneros, a junior, has qualified for states every year of her high school career in various relays. She is also an accomplished cross country runner who set a school-record time of 18:52.90 this past season and went on to place 13th at states in 2A.

Rafaella Gibbons, Winter Park: A talented distance runner who shines on the cross country and track teams, Gibbons placed third at states in the 3200 and fifth in the 1600 during her junior season. She will run collegiately at N.C. State.

Kheli Phillips, Lake Highland: A three-sport athlete who shines in cross country, soccer and track and field, this freshman qualified for states in track  as an eighth-grader and broke the school record in the 800 meters, finishing ninth in 2A.

GIRLS WATER POLO

Karsyn Stewart, Lake Nona: Stewart led the county in scoring last year and helped lead Lake Nona to the state final. She maintains a 4.6 GPA and is considering Indiana University, Iona College and Marist College.

SOFTBALL

Katherine Budnovich, Oviedo: In addition to pitching, Budnovich also plays shortstop and third base and batted an impressive .472 last year while compiling a 3.72 ERA with 61 strikeouts. She will attend Palm Beach Atlantic on a softball scholarship.

Caryssa Orland, Olympia: A junior shortstop/outfielder, Orland was the only sophomore selected to the all- Metro Conference team last year. She batted .455 with 11 doubles and 20 RBIs and struck out just three times in 8 2 plate appearances. She has committed to Florida Atlantic.

Kathryn Sutton, Oviedo: Batting .373 last season, this three-year varsity starter and center fielder will continue her softball career at Palm Beach Atlantic next season.

GIRLS TENNIS

Samantha DiMaio, Trinity: A senior who has committed to West Point, DiMaio was the 1A state champion in both singles and doubles last year. She has been undefeated in doubles during the regular season every year of her career and only lost one match in singles as a junior.

Paige Herremans, Lake Nona: Just a freshman, Herremans is expected to have an immediate impact at Lake Nona. A Michigan native who moved to Florida three years ago, Herremans first picked up a racket at age 3 and qualified for her first national tournament at 10.   She ended 2017 ranked 52nd in the country for her age group.

Alana Wolfberg, Timber Creek: The two-time defending 4A state singles champion, this junior has yet to lose a match in high school tennis. She also won a state doubles title as a sophomore, and she recently reached the final of a national junior tournament, dropping a close match in three sets.