(Author’s Note:  I have not received Atlantic Coast’s answers, I’ll add them when I get them.  And if any of the schools has a picture or two I’ll be happy to add those too!)

  District 5 Fletcher finally broke through with their first District win, sweeping Providence School and Mandarin before being handled by Ponte Vedra in the first round of the FHSAA.  The win over Providence avenged the previous year’s OT loss in the district final of 2016.  Dan McAuliffe takes over for Josh Covelli this year as head coach. It’s fair to say that there is still a gap between them and the top teams in the region as their out of district results fell short, struggling defensively with the likes of Bartram Trail, Leon, Nease, etc.  So as they continue to progress as a program they will need to show they can be competitive with those programs.  As long as they have to face District 6 in the first round, District championships are all that the District 5 teams can aspire to until more progress is made. Providence finished 10-7 but had a similar out of district profile.  Sandalwood finished 10-6 with a similar profile.  Coach Henry Montgomery has moved over to Mandarin so there should be an improvement there too.  The district looks like it can tighten up and we’ll see who takes the steps needed to separate themselves.  Fletcher looks like the slight favorite going into the season to repeat.     District Playoffs Fletcher beat Providence 13-8 and Mandarin beat Sandalwood 14-8 Fletcher beat Mandarin 17-6   Team Name: Fletcher High School Head Coach’s Name:  Dan McAuliffe Who are your leading returning players? Ryan Bennett (Attack), Blaine Harrell (midfield) our leading scorers will play a huge role in our offense and we return a veteran defensive core led by Michael Gillan, Ayden Goodermote Outstanding LSM, Zach Frakes and Jake Guzzino. Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Anthony Chacon and Jamie Cronin both freshmen will play valuable minutes for the Senators this spring. What are your realistic goals for the season? With the talented athletes on this team there’s no reason why we shouldn’t win the District and compete for a final four spot. What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? All our district games will be challenging especially rival Mandarin and Sandalwood these games will set the tone and direction of our team. What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? Atlantic Coast HS – Addison Howard exceptional player   Team Name: Mandarin High School Mustangs Head Coach’s Name: Henry Montgomery Who are your leading returning players?   Jared Kane – 70 points, 52 goals, 18 assists – Signed with Embry-Riddle University Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Joshua Williams – Junior – defenseman Bryce Dukes – Junior – attack Trey Nelson – Junior – midfielder Brandon Blunk – Junior – midfielder Chance Priest – Junior – midfielder What are your realistic goals for the season? Last year was in the district finals game, this year hoping to capture the team’s first district title. What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Biggest rivalry is Atlantic Coast.   Team Name: Sandalwood High School Head Coach’s Name: Scott Lowery Who are your leading returning players? Brandon Holman – Attackman junior Harrison Lipson – Middie – Junior Both of them are leading scores from the previous year. Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Luke Jackson – Freshman who has a lot of Promise. What are your realistic goals for the season? We want to build on our young team we have a ton of first year freshmen and sophomores who are only going to get better. What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? Fletcher high school. Our two teams love to hate each other and its never gone anywhere. Providence HS we have had close losses against them over and over again for the last few years.   Team Name: Providence School Stallions Head Coach’s Name: Brian Theiss  Who are your leading returning players?   Sr. Defenseman Ian Anderson (Montevallo University) – big brusing defenseman that should have an excellent year leading the young defense. Sr. Attack Charles Hurst – Athletic leader of the offense So. Attack Guy Bistrow – led team in scoring as a Freshman Sr. Midfield Jack Kiernan – won 74% of faceoffs last year. Are there any underclassmen that you expect to step up and contribute right away? Eight grader Defenseman Thomas Slagle, you’d never know he’s a middle schooler. Poised and confident. Will be a big contributor on the defensive side. Seventh grader Long Pole Midfielder – Luke Lowery, possesses knowledge of the game beyond his year. Scored two goals and 1 assist as a 6^th grader last year. Ground ball magnet. What are your realistic goals for the season? We feel we have a legit chance at the District Title.  Fletcher returns most of their team, I think they will be the favorites. What game or two do you point to as something special, like a long-lasting rivalry? As mentioned above – Fletcher has been our rival since the get go.  The previous coach of Fletcher and Providence didn’t get a long real well so I think it’s fueled that. Our schools, while very different in size, are close in distance as well. What 3 players in your District that don’t play for your school are the ‘players to watch’? Lax just isn’t that big in Duval county so I have no real idea who players are for other teams. It’s a shame. I have to scout to figure it out.