Above – TFA’s Luke West last season
Austin Cotton makes a save for TFA
This is our fifth installment of the FHSAA season preview. We kept track of teams and players around the state, spoke to coaches, and watched some fall ball and think we have a pretty good handle on who is who in each district. So here we go!
See Districts 1 & 2, See Districts 3 & 4, See Districts 5 & 6, see Districts 7 & 8, See Districts 9 & 10, See Districts 11 & 12
District 13
DP freshman Mikey BerkmanDr. Phillips made their way to the Elite 8 in 2014 and looks like they are going to be strong again this season. Ian Decker was the top scorer last year breaking many of the school scoring records and is counted on to lead the offense again this year. Clearly, we are expecting to see a big break out season from freshman Syracuse commit, Mikey Berkman. Defenseman, Mikey Sesay, is a ground ball machine who is very explosive and dangerous in transition.
Even with the success they had last season this team had better not sleep on TFA. First Academy had a solid 13-5 season last year but came up two goals short in the District Championship game against Dr. Phillips. They return this year with 13 seniors on the roster and are looking to get the job done.
Senior Jordan Rapport is a 6’3, 210 Defenseman who is a three year starter. He will play in front of Austin Cotton. Cotton has been starting in the goal for so long at TFA we can hardly believe he’s still in high school. We are certain we’ll see the four year starter playing at the next level. Another long time starter for TFA is Deacon Schrimsher. He is a 60% face off man who also scored 53 goals and dished out 22 assists last season.
Lane Artope sat out the 2014 season after transferring to WO from TFA. He could have a big year back on the field.Lake Nona is in a rebuilding phase and is young this season. They’ll look for defensive help from a pair of seniors Josh Soracco and Austin Williams. Young Carter Schafer (sophomore) is going to have to carry a big chunck of the load in terms of offensive production.
Windermere Prep continues to build their program under the direction of Syracuse Tewaaraton Award finalist, 1st Team All American, and Big East midfielder of the year Jo Jo Marasko. (And current MLL player for the New York Lizards.) Marasko is looking for production from junior attackman, Davis Crayner. Caryner is a four year starter for the Lakers. He is very crafty and moves the ball well. Jay Hunter is an improved shooter and passer who will be looked to for leadership. This senior captain in an important piece of the Windermere offense. Three sport athlete, Kevin Babich is a standout on the football, soccer, and lacrosse teams. He has great size and power on the midfield. Defensively the Lakers will look to junior captain Craig Bourdain. He has great footwork, field awareness and provides the leadership on defense.
Nick Poidomani (above) who graduated last year could see his scoring record broken by Bailey Sarp this seasonFreedom rounds out this district.
District 14
West Orange won all six games they played against district opponents last year by fairly wide margins. They should repeat that again this year. West Orange is the most established program on the west side of Orange county having fielded a lacrosse team since 1994. With six wins this year they will reach the 200th victory in school history and one more will deliver Head Coach Bill Baker his 100th win. They are in pursuit of their fourth-straight district title this and seventh overall this year.
With some big milestones in their reach they will be looking to senior Bailey Sarp (attack) for much of the scoring. He had 41 goal season last year despite being 100 % healthy for only half the season due to pre-season foot surgery. 51 goals to this year would tie the school record for career goals of 157 (Nick Poidomani, 2014). Senior Lane Artope is a very talented attackman who sat out last year after transferring from TFA. He, no doubt, is looking forward to getting back on the field.
A pair of seniors anchor the defense for West Orange. Co-captains Matt Cohn and Josh Haith. Haith is headed to the US Naval Academy next year were he plans to play club lacrosse. Both are three year varsity players with plenty of experience. Sophomore Alex Kouchalakso is a rising talent who started last year as a freshman and should have break out season. Sophomore F/O middie Zach Malaussena had a big freshman year with 29 assists and picked up 125 GB’s for the Warriors last year. He is a solid F/O specialist. Senior goalie Garrett Burns gets the start this season after recording a shut out and a 1.14 GA average in a back up role last season.
Head Coach Bill Baker is not on cruise control to his milestone season. “WO is playing one of its most challenging regular season schedules with games vs. Boone, Timber Creek, Winter Park, Dr. Phillips, TFA, Oviedo and Bishop Moore.”
Olympia is hoping to rebound from a 3-11 2014. Jordan Tracey takes over the program at Olympia this season. The Titans have four seniors to watch this year. Two guys that can play either attack or middie are Calvin Anderson and Steven Gilmour. Alex Pantaleon is dangerous running the midfield. Defensively, Cameron Fisher should draw the toughest match ups this season. A young player to watch is sophomore LSM Alex Aken. Aken can play either close D or LSM and is a legitimate talent who could have a big year.
East Ridge had a great rebound year in 2014 going 12-6 after a disappointing 4-11 in 2013. We’ll see if they can continue to build on that momentum. East Ridge can do it with solid play from attackman Jesse Castillo and middie Austin DiPietro. A defensive stand for the Knights is goalie Keifer Gourdie.
Ocoee was 10-6 last season and has not had a losing season since 2011 which was head coach Ricky Kaetzel’s first year.
Lake Minneola enters their third season and looks to improve on a 2-8 season that saw them go winless in the district.
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