Gracie Wallace, Windermere Prep softball

A senior pitcher and Florida Gulf Coast University commit, Wallace transferred to Windermere Prep last year as a junior and posted a 25-2 record with a 0.54 ERA and 326 strikeouts. She helped lead the Lakers to their first-ever district and regional titles and a berth in the state final.

OFM: Last year was such a special season for you and the team. What stands out when you look back on it?

GW: My favorite game was the regional championship game (a 4-3 win over The First Academy in 11 innings). It was so long and we played a lot of innings and we really had to [come together] to advance. That was really a special game for me.

OFM: Did you fit in right away?

GW: Yes. Everybody was really welcoming and it was great to be part of the team.

OFM: Were you surprised to have an impact right away after transferring to the school?

GW: I had written down goals before the season. I wanted to win a district championship and one of my goals was to make it to states. I really wasn’t expecting to do that good but I was grateful that it happened.

OFM: What are your goals for this season?

GW: We lost some key players but I want to at least win the district championship again.

OFM: Have you always been a pitcher?

GW: I started pitching when I was 10 but I didn’t get serious about it until I was 14 in eighth grade. It took me a while to really get the hang of it. It paid off.

OFM: What do you like about the position?

GW: I like having control and having the pace of the game. I would say you have the most control as a pitcher.

OFM: What pitches do you throw?

GW: I throw a two-seam fastball, a changeup, a screwball, a curveball and a riseball.

OFM: Is there a pitch you like to throw the most when you really need an out?

GW: My favorite pitch to throw is my screwball but probably my best strikeout pitch is my riseball.

OFM: You had over 300 strikeouts last year. Can you tell early on in a game when you have dominant stuff and have a chance to strike a lot of batters out?

GW: It is a really good feeling when I’m doing good and I try to keep the rhythm going for the whole game. It does get tiring depending on what game it is but I still try to pull through every time.

OFM: I know you had a perfect game last year against Foundation Academy. What stands out when you think back to that day?

GW: That was a really good day. I tried not to think about it because I didn’t want to ruin it. I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself and mess it up but I still wanted to keep doing everything the same. I think the last out was a strikeout swinging. Everyone was really excited about the win. I don’t remember if I even knew it was a perfect game right after but I probably did.

OFM: How is new head coach Jenilee Tomlinson working out?

GW: She’s really great. She knows a lot about the game and she’s a very knowledgeable person. She’s very organized and she keeps a list every practice of what she wants to go over. We have some new players and she’s really good with them. She has a lot of good information and it’s good to have her around as a coach. I’m honored to be one of her players.

OFM: What factors led to you committing to Florida Gulf Coast University?

GW: The coach was really nice when he reached out to me and every time we talked he seemed like a good person. When I visited the campus it was beautiful and I remember that I could see myself going there. It sealed the deal once I visited and I knew I wanted to go there.

OFM: Do you know what you want to major in?

GW: Not yet but I’m thinking business.

OFM: Have you always lived in Florida?

GW: Yes, I’ve lived in the same house my whole life. I live in a small town [Sorrento] and it’s almost the same thing every day. I have a big yard and it’s really nice to go out there and throw every day.

OFM: What do you like about going to Windermere Prep?

GW: It’s a really good school. The teachers and the environment are great and I’ve learned a lot. It’s preparing me for what college is going to be like. It is a prep school and it’s rigorous but I know it’s really good for me.

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

GW: I really like painting and I actually got into it going to Windermere Prep last year. I took a painting class and fell in love with painting. I like painting pictures for my family. My dad’s favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys so I painted Tony Romo for him. I paint stuff for my mom like pictures of my dog. I really like it but I see it as more of a hobby; I don’t know how I would do if I tried to get serious about it.

OFM: Do you have any favorite Netflix shows?

GW: I really like the show Outer Banks.

 

Sarah Strange, Boone track and field

Strange, a senior, was a district champion in the discus last spring and went on to compete in the event at states, placing 14th in 4A with a throw of 107 feet, 6 inches. She is also a standout in the shot put and runs the 100-meter dash and 4×100.

OFM: Last year was a successful one for you, including strong performances at the postseason meets. Were you happy with it?

SS: I was happy with what I accomplished but I feel that I could have done better. It was difficult because I split my time between flag football and track and practices were usually at the same time, so I didn’t get as much discus time in.

OFM: Are you still playing both?

SS: Yes I am. I love flag football and I’ve always been good at track, and I love that too.

OFM: What goals do you have for your final track season?

SS: I would really like to make it to states again. Last year I did not throw the best that I could have. I would like to get top three for the discus.

OFM: Do you prefer competing in the throws or the sprints?

SS: I’m not sure. I’ve always liked running sprints in a race but I’ve always done well in the throws, especially since my dad is the coach.

OFM: What is it like having your dad, Bob, as your throwing coach?

SS: It has its ups and downs. All teenagers get upset with their parents and it’s difficult to separate practice from home life. But it’s also really nice having him as a coach because when I succeed in something, we get to do it together.

OFM: Is he the one who got you interested in throwing in the first place?

SS: Yes. My brothers and my sister threw in high school too, my dad threw for Boone, my uncle threw for Boone. I’m last in line because I’m the youngest. My oldest brother lives in Montana so I don’t get to see him very often, but my dad will send the family videos and my brother will give me tips. My sister will come to practice sometimes and tell me things I could be doing better to perfect my throwing.

OFM: So this year is an end to an era at Boone.

SS: Yes. I think my uncle [Eric Strange] holds the record for boys discus at Boone, and my dad helped coach him. He’s been coaching for a long time.

OFM: What are your plans for next year?

SS: I’m not sure what school I’m going to go to because the decisions haven’t all come out yet. I’ve been getting interest from track coaches all over the country, wanting to tell me about their program. I’m not sure if I’m going to do track next year; I’m fine either way. I’m sure I’ll miss it if I don’t and then maybe the next year I can do it.

OFM: Are you looking to stay close to home or go far away?

SS: I don’t want to be too close to home but I also don’t want to be across the country. I want to be far enough away where I’m in college and I can’t constantly come home and rely on my family too much, because I need to start to be more independent and get ready for the real world. But I also don’t want to be days of driving away so I can’t drive in a day to see them for the weekend.

OFM: What are your hobbies away from track?

SS: I play volleyball at my church once a week and a bunch of my friends go. I also love dogs—I mean I love dogs. They are the best animals in the world. I have a job where I work with dogs all day. I take care of them, feed them and take them out, and I just hang out with them all day. I have three dogs of my own: two Australian Shepherds and one Wheaten terrier.

OFM: Have you always lived in Florida?

SS: I was born in Orlando but because my dad was in the Navy for 25 years, we moved a lot. So I was born in Orlando but then we moved to Jacksonville for a few years because he was stationed there. Then he was stationed in Virginia so we lived there for a year. Then we went back to Jacksonville and he finally retired in 2012, and we moved back down to Orlando because my grandparents live here and my family lives here. We wanted to be close by and we wanted all the kids to go to Boone High School, where everyone else in the family has gone. We wanted the legacy to go on.

OFM: What do you like about this area?

SS: It’s really nice to be so close to everything. There’s great shopping and restaurants and the theme parks are really fun. I also like being close to the beach—just an hour away isn’t bad.

OFM: What’s your favorite theme park?

SS: I really like Universal and my favorite ride is The Mummy. It’s a roller coaster but it’s inside and it’s all dark so you can’t really see what’s going to happen. It’s really fun.

 

Josh Donovan, Lake Mary lacrosse

A senior attackman/midfielder, Donovan had 52 goals and 18 assists as a junior to help Lake Mary post an 18-2 record and reach the 2A state semifinals before dropping a close game to Winter Park. He has high hopes for his final season before moving on to Yale University.

OFM: Last year was a special one for the team that included a trip to the state semifinals. What stands out when you look back on it?

JD: We definitely had a super talented roster of young guys and I think one of the best parts was the relationships I got to build with a couple of the younger guys. We had a sophomore, Koby White, and a freshman, Caden Harshbarger, who I became pretty good friends with after being able to play with them. Another special thing was being able to be out on the field for a whole year. I had been injured my freshman and sophomore years, so just getting out there and going through the trials with all of my friends and teammates was an amazing experience. I also was very lucky to have the continuous support of my coaches at Lake Mary, throughout my comebacks from injuries.

OFM: What were your injuries?

JD: I had two back fractures in my L5 in my spine and I had a broken ankle that I had surgery on in the preseason in 2020. Both happened during lacrosse. Freshman year, two games into the season I was at practice and I took a shot and I felt a little pop in my back. I couldn’t walk for a little while but then I got up and went to the doctor, and it turned out I had two spinal fractures. So I was out for most of that season doing physical therapy up to our last game of the year against Ponta Vedra. Then my sophomore year, I had worked all fall doing physical therapy and had taken off from lacrosse, and then in our preseason game I fell funny after going up for a ball and I twisted my ankle. I had surgery on that just so I could get back for the summer.

OFM: How does everything feel now?

JD: I’m all healthy and excited for the upcoming season.

OFM: Do you think a lot about the loss to Winter Park in last year’s state semifinals?

JD: I’ve definitely thought about it a lot. I have the film on it and I’ve watched it a thousand times. I’ve gone through what we could have done, what we needed to do and how we can avoid a repeat of that when we see them again this year. We play them March 4 in the regular season and I definitely have that game marked on the calendar. It was a big game for me; I had been playing on a sprained ankle but I scored six goals that day. But we fell short and I’ve definitely been preparing to see them again.

OFM: What can you accomplish as a team this year?

JD: We’ve brought back a ton of that young talent and we’re looking toward states, but right now it’s just game by game. We want to have as good of a record as we can. We’ve got great matchups against Winter Park, against Jupiter, against Tampa Jesuit—all these top 10 teams in the state—so we’re going to take them game by game. Every single game is important to get great seeding for the playoffs, and then it’s off to districts and regionals and states from there. We’re looking ahead but we’re also taking it slowly and trying to do the best we can in each individual game.

OFM: Have you always been a playmaker?

JD: It’s always something I’ve prided myself on but I more enjoy just getting out there and being able to play. It’s obviously a great thrill to be able to score, but it’s just as good to be able to assist or make any great play: a great clear, a great ride, a great takeaway. I’ve always been that attackman or midfielder trying to score goals but if I’m not scoring goals I’m just as happy being out there playing.

OFM: Lacrosse is a great sport and has really grown a lot over the past 10 or 20 years. How would you describe it to someone who doesn’t know much about it?

JD: I’ve explained it to people before and it’s like a mix of hockey and soccer and all these great field sports. You’ve got live substitution, you’ve got all this action going on and it’s kind of hard to trace the ball. What I take out of it is that it’s such a fun sport to watch and a fun sport to be a part of because you’re not used to watching a game where people are scoring back and forth and going at each other. Then it’s straight to a faceoff and you get to go again. I think it’s a perfect mix of all these other sports and in Florida it has really grown. When I moved down here and started playing in 2009, we had one club team and our high school team was just getting started. But by 2013 we had a new coach at the high school and since then I’ve seen national teams coming and starting programs so kids in Florida can get recruited. We’ve seen a huge burst and now we have 200-something schools in the state that now carry lacrosse teams. It’s been pretty cool to see that growth in lacrosse.

OFM: Where were you originally from before moving to Florida?

JD: I was born in Pennsylvania and I lived there for two years and then we moved to England for my dad’s job and lived there for three years. I moved here when I was 5 and this is really my home because I don’t remember too much from before. My mom played in college so she introduced me to lacrosse once she realized there was a team around here. My brother, my sister and I all started playing lacrosse around 2009 when we moved here. Since then I haven’t stopped playing for a day. I love to be out there, I love practicing and being with the team.

OFM: Do you have any memories at all of living in England?

JD: I have a few. I remember our house, I remember watching my dad through the window as he drove off to work, I remember my preschool and my pre-K. We visited back in fifth grade so I have a better base of all of these memories and we have some great home videos of playing around the house or going to the park that was across the street or visiting all of these awesome places in London. I have fond memories of England but since I was so young, not too many.

OFM: Do you know what you’re doing next year?

JD: I will be attending Yale, just for academics though. I’m not sure yet whether I’m going to try to walk on [to the lacrosse team]. I was trying to get recruited but academics was definitely at the forefront of my mind so I was only looking at those high academics, and it’s a little more challenging to play lacrosse at a Division I level. I went the academic route after all of the injuries and I luckily got into Yale. I already clicked accept on my letter and I’m planning on going next year. I’m still deciding whether my body can take another four years [of lacrosse] and whether I’m going to try for that opportunity.

OFM: It doesn’t get much better than going to school in the Ivy League. Has that been a longtime goal?

JD: Yes. My parents actually both attended Yale; my mom played lacrosse there and my dad played football and baseball. I’ve always had Yale shirts and Yale hats and it’s always been a dream of mine to go there. For a while it was my top lacrosse school and unfortunately that didn’t really pan out, but I was lucky enough to put myself in a position where I could attend academically. It’s something I’ve been looking toward and it’s been a dream and I’m just excited and very thrilled that I’m actually getting to live it out.

OFM: Do you know what you want to study?

JD: I’m thinking about doing something like statistics or maybe economics and doing something business-related. I’m not sure exactly because there will be so many opportunities and so many different types of people I’m going to be able to meet who will influence me. At the moment if I had to choose it would be something mathematical that I could take into the business world.

OFM: Are you prepared for Northeastern winters?

JD: I’m very excited for them. I love Florida and I love that the winter is a little bit hotter here, but at the same time I’m kind of ready to get back to the cold. I’ve visited plenty of times in the fall and it’s kind of nice to get out in the cold and feel a little bit of a chill. I’m definitely ready for it, to put on a winter coat and see some snow finally.

OFM: What do you like to do for fun aside from lacrosse?

JD: Lacrosse has been a year-long thing for me for a while and it’s something that I’ve very much enjoyed doing. I’ve practiced a little too much; that’s why I had those back fractures, they were stress fractures from shooting too much. Since then I do a lot of training and physical therapy stuff that I very much enjoy. I like getting out there and competing whether it’s other guys I’m training with or just trying to make myself better. When I’m not focusing on sports or school, I like to just get out with my friends and be around them. I think it energizes me to be around people so I try to get out as much as I can. If I’m not with people, we all watch movies and rate them on this app called Letterboxd. I like to be able to do things with my friends whether I’m actually getting out to see them or another common experience.

OFM: What kind of movies are you into?

JD: My favorite movie is Interstellar. I very much like a lot of action and a lot of thrills and twists and turns. I also like Pulp Fiction and all these great movies from these great directors. I’m also a big Marvel fan and Star Wars fan—I’m a little bit of a geek in that way. I think the sci-fi is thrilling, the way they do the CGI and the cinematography.

OFM: Have you gotten to do any of the Star Wars rides or experiences at Disney?

JD: Not yet. I haven’t gone back to Disney to see Star Wars Land since COVID happened but I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there sometime and getting my own lightsaber and things like that.

 

Ben Barrett, The First Academy baseball

A senior pitcher/infielder, Barrett helped spark The First Academy to an unforgettable season in 2021 that included the program’s first state championship. The Florida State commit went 10-1 on the mound, including seven shutout innings in the state final, and batted .333 with 27 RBIs.

OFM: Last year was obviously a historic one for the program. What are your fondest memories when you look back on the season?

BB: It was definitely my favorite time ever playing baseball and the best moment of my life was playing in the state championship game. It’s something I still think about all the time and I watch videos from it.

OFM: Was there a lot of pressure pitching in that game?

BB: At first there was. I would say I had some nerves in the first couple of innings but after the first inning I was calm and I knew I had the stuff to do it.

OFM: The team has a lot of key players back. Is it your goal to repeat as state champs?

BB: I think we have a target on our back and we’re one of the top dogs now. Before we were the underdogs so we didn’t have that much pressure. We can’t be complacent, we have to keep working to get better. But we have pretty much everybody back. We only lost two starters and no pitchers.

OFM: You and Isaac Sewell both had terrific seasons on the mound last year. Do you feel like you bring out the best in each other?

BB: Oh yeah, it’s really fun. We both work out at the same place every day too, so after practice we come here and work out. Pretty much half the team comes here and we have a really close bond as a team. It’s so much fun playing with these guys.

OFM: Do you consider yourself a pitcher first or a position player first?

BB: I would say I can do both pretty much the same and right now it’s pretty even. They want me to do both in college and when I get there, I’ll do whatever they need me to do. I would like to still hit in college.

OFM: Why did you choose Florida State as the place to continue your career?

BB: I wanted to stay in Florida and as soon as they called me I kind of knew it was the spot. I went there and I really liked the facilities and the campus, and the coaches were great too. It was kind of a no-brainer.

OFM: Do you know what you want to study?

BB: I want to get into the physical therapy field so something to do with that.

OFM: Obviously you would like to play baseball as long as possible. Is it your dream to play professionally?

BB: Oh yeah, for sure. That’s what I’ve been working for. I’ve talked to some pro teams and from a pitching standpoint, I probably need to get my [velocity] up to 95 or 96 [miles per hour]. Right now I’m at 90-92 and at the national showcase I was up to 93. From a hitting standpoint, I probably need to hit more home runs.

OFM: How did you get started in baseball?

BB: My older brother played so I would go to all of his games. My mom says that pretty much as soon as I was born I started playing. I also played basketball, soccer, football—pretty much everything growing up. … But I had a big head start with baseball because I fell in love with it going to all of my brother’s games and I was way better at it than the other sports.

OFM: Is there a major-leaguer who you look up to?

BB: I like J.D. Martinez a lot. I like his story that he had to go through a lot and basically change his swing. He’s probably the guy I look up to even though I hate the Red Sox. I’m a Rays fan.

OFM: If you could pick one big-league park to play in, which would it be?

BB: Well I’ve played in Tampa Bay’s. I think San Diego would be cool, the Padres’ stadium.

OFM: What are your hobbies away from baseball?

BB: I like working out a lot. On the weekends I like hanging out with my friends, maybe going out on the boat and fishing. That’s pretty much it.

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

BB: I like that the weather is always warm and rarely cold so we can play year-round. I also like being not too far from the beach and you can get out on the lake too, so that’s fun.

OFM: What song would you pick for your walk-up song to the plate?

BB: That’s a tough one. It has to be clean so I have to think about that. The past two years I used Butterfly Effect by Travis Scott. I’m not sure what I’m doing this year.

OFM: Who is the guy on the team who can make everyone laugh during a rough practice or game?

BB: Definitely Michael Rivera. Him and Reid Williams together are the funniest kids I’ve ever seen. They’re also the guys who are cheering the whole game and getting everyone hyped up. They’re definitely a big part of the team.

 

Lauren Pittman, Lake Highland Prep lacrosse

Pittman, a senior attacker/midfielder, tied for the team lead with 47 goals last year and had 10 assists as the Highlanders went 20-1 and reached the 1A state championship game. She is looking forward to another memorable season before continuing her career at Franklin & Marshall.

OFM: Last year was another successful one for the program. What stands out when you look back on it?

LP: I have a lot of fond memories. It was fun beating our rival, American Heritage, at home last year, although we did lose in the state championship. We had a lot of great team chemistry and really good players, and it was just overall a good season.

OFM: Were you happy with your individual contributions?

LP: Definitely. I became the leading scorer, which was a great accomplishment for me, having started a lot later than a lot of the other girls I play with. I felt very accomplished being the leading scorer with such great girls by my side on the team.

OFM: The program has produced a lot of great players over the years. What is it like to be part of that tradition?

LP: It’s very cool. I feel special to be a part of it and playing with a lot of D-1 athletes like Olivia Adamson who is going to Syracuse. I really just love the camaraderie and being able to play at a high level.

OFM: When did you start playing lacrosse?

LP: I started playing my freshman year. I used to be a singer and sang across the world. In ninth grade all my friends started playing lacrosse and I wanted to join. Ever since then I’ve just loved it and I’ve been pretty successful. A lot of people in my family are great athletes and I think I got that gene. I just love running and playing and being with the team.

OFM: Can you tell me more about your singing?

LP: When I was younger I was very into theater and the arts and music. I sang at the Canterbury Cathedral, I was in the Bach choir in Winter Park, I sang at the White House, I sang in Japan. I loved it but I wanted to play sports, and when [Lake Highland Prep coach Chris] Robinson came down I wanted to try lacrosse. I switched from a singer to an athlete.

OFM: Do you miss performing at all?

LP: Yes, but I love being an athlete and I don’t regret switching over. Music will always be there and be a part of my life, but I’m glad that I get to participate in another activity.

OFM: Do you ever sing for the team on the bus?

LP: No, I don’t. [Laughs]

OFM: When did you perform at the White House?

LP: When I was in third grade. We met [President Barack Obama] but I don’t know if he watched us sing. It was a great experience. I don’t think I really understood how great of an experience it was being that I was in third grade, but now that I’m older I realize all the great opportunities I had through singing and being able to travel across the world. I appreciate it more and more.

OFM: Have you always lived in Florida?

LP: Yes, I’m definitely a Florida girl. I love the weather, I love the beach, I love going out on the boat, I love being with friends and honestly I just love the heat.

OFM: You’re going away to Pennsylvania for college, though. What led to that decision?

LP: I am but I’m excited for a new experience. I definitely loved the coaches; they’re like my high school coaches that I have down here. I also loved the team camaraderie and I love that not only do I get to play on a nationally ranked team that can win national championships, but I also like that I have time to study abroad and do pre-med because they have a hospital on campus. It allows me to be a student and an athlete at a high level.

OFM: Has it been a longtime goal to go pre-med and eventually become a doctor?

LP: Yes. My aunt is a dentist and I hope to someday take over her practice.

OFM: Are you ready for Pennsylvania winters?

LP: I’m ready and I’m excited. I’ve never experienced it so I think it will be pretty cool.

OFM: What do you like about going to school at Lake Highland Prep?

LP: I love the people and the academics are great. I feel very prepared to go to college at such a great school. I love our stadiums too. It’s everything—I can’t just think of one thing. I’ve been there since kindergarten so it’s crazy that I’m almost done.

 

Emily Scheerer, Lake Nona water polo

As a sophomore, Scheerer had four goals and two assists in the state final to help Lake Nona capture its first-ever state championship in girls water polo, capping an 18-0 season. She finished with 38 goals on the year and has emerged as one of the Lions’ go-to scorers as an upperclassman.

OFM: You played a huge part in Lake Nona’s state title last year. Did that mean a lot to you to deliver in a clutch moment for your team?

ES: It did. It was really nice to be able to help my team in more ways than one and become a great asset to help us win the championship.

OFM: When did you realize it had the potential to be a special season?

ES: I feel like I kind of knew coming into the season, but at the same time that was a crazy thought. Once we were in the season and into the playoffs, that’s when I really knew. I remember talking to [Jordan Agliano’s] dad and he had been telling me the whole time, ‘We need you, we need you.’ I think that made me realize how crucial I could be to the team and help us win.

OFM: Did you all know it was Lake Nona’s first state title?

ES: Yeah, we did. We knew that Lake Nona had gone to states before and been runner-up, but that this was the first state championship for Lake Nona.

OFM: How did you celebrate?

ES: We were kind of going back and forth on whether we wanted to go somewhere in Miami. But then we decided to come back to Lake Nona and we went to Boxi Park. We had all of our friends and family come and we all ate pizza together.

OFM: What are your expectations for this season?

ES: We definitely have high expectations again. We have to perform at our best and hopefully we can do even better than last year. I think we’ve all grown and we’re so much better players than last year. Hopefully we can live up to the expectations and make this an even better season.

OFM: What is it like without leading scorer Jordan Agliano, who is not playing this year?

ES: It’s difficult getting used to but I think we’ll be alright. We’re working better together and we don’t have to rely on one person. We’re making sure we can all put our own shots in and all become great assets.

OFM: Are you becoming more of a focal point with her not there?

ES: I think a little, yes. I think more people will start to drop back on me or double me, but then they won’t realize the other shooters we have on our team.

OFM: Did Jordan have a big impact on you?

ES: She did. She was a really great friend to me and without her and her dad pushing me all the time, I don’t think I would have realized my full potential. … She had a huge impact on me and our team.

OFM: How did you get started in the sport in the first place?

ES: One of the seniors from a few years ago, her name is Quynn Gillan, was my neighbor and her mom was friends with my mom. She had played water polo and she graduated in 2019. Her mom was like, ‘You should come play.’ One of the other alumni had a pool at their house so I trained at their house throughout seventh grade. Then I joined club with [Lake Nona coach Alex] Bennett the summer after my seventh grade year. I’ve been playing with Bennett ever since. At the alumni’s house it was just a few girls and it was kind of hard to visualize, but once I joined club with Bennett I really liked it and it was something I wanted to do.

OFM: Would you like to play at the next level?

ES: Yeah, I would really like to play in college. I’ve been recruited by a few schools and I’ve been talking to a few, but I’m not ready to make a decision yet. It’s a work in progress.

OFM: What are some of your hobbies away from the sport?

ES: I like to be creative. I like to make jewelry—I make these cool rings out of stones.

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

ES: The weather. Some people don’t like how hot it is but it’s been cold recently and I don’t like the cold. I really want it to start being warm again.

OFM: Do you try to take advantage of all of the entertainment options or does it get old after a while?

ES: I think it grows old. I went through a Disney and Universal phase for a minute but now it’s always way too hot and there’s too many people, so it’s not as fun. It’s nice to go on the rainy days because nobody’s there.

OFM: Have you thought about what kind of career you’d like to have in the future?

ES: I’ve thought about it but I go back and forth and I don’t really know what I want to do.

 

Nate Cohen-Neamie, Trinity Prep tennis

Cohen-Neamie started playing tennis at a young age and has been a fixture at USTA tournaments over the years. His success has carried over to high school and he is finishing up his stellar career this spring by playing No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for one of the state’s premier programs.

OFM: How does it feel to be a senior in your final season of high school tennis?

NCN: It’s fun. As a senior there’s a lot more leadership that’s inherent. I’ve been on the team a few years but there’s something different about being a senior and being able to help younger kids be just as successful.

OFM: Do you like being in the role of No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles and embracing the pressure that comes with it?

NCN: It’s really fun because you’re leading by example. I know I’m not going to win every single match but I’m going to put my best effort out there on the court and I think the other kids will follow suit.

OFM: Were you pretty young when you got started in tennis?

NCN: Very young. I was about 4 years old when I first picked up a racket. I’ve been playing for a long time—playing in USTA tournaments, training on the weekends and hitting and all of that. My dad played tennis growing up and he wanted me to learn it as well.

OFM: What do you love about the sport?

NCN: I would say it’s the fact that you can play with anyone. I’ve played with so many different people from so many parts of the world, and it’s a sport that you can share with so many people. It’s universal; it’s that universality element that I enjoy. I’ve played in different countries and around the world with Spanish players and European players, and everybody knows the rules and how to play. You can go out there and have a good time with anybody.

OFM: It sounds like you’ve done a good amount of traveling.

NCN: I’ve done some traveling and whenever I travel somewhere I always try to play tennis too. It’s not so much tournament travel—a lot of that is based in Florida since we’re such a large tennis hub.

OFM: Do you follow the pro game closely?

NCN: No, not really. I like playing it but it’s a little tougher to watch.

OFM: I know you have been involved extensively with community work. How did that come about?

NCN: During COVID, I had my first couple of weeks off in my entire life. I wasn’t training; I wasn’t practicing. During that time I definitely opened up to the teaching aspect of tennis. So I got together with some of my tennis buddies and we put together an organization, the Orlando Tennis Foundation. We got baskets of balls and we went on Facebook groups and all of these community organizations. We did community outreach, we got a couple of instructors and we just started giving free lessons around the city to whoever wanted them or needed them. We wanted to increase access because tennis is generally regarded as one of those closed sports. Increasing access is important to us as an organization. Another interest for me is I’m the debate captain and I’ve been doing speech and debate for a couple of years. Those are my main extracurricular things.

OFM: What has the response been like for the Orlando Tennis Foundation?

NCN: The community loves it. We worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and did some great work over there. We did summer lessons with them. To sum it up in word, it’s just been positive. Every single person we’ve interacted with has had a good experience and everyone enjoys it. Tennis is a sport where as long as you have a decent instructor and you have the resources, you can enjoy it. It’s a little tougher than sports like basketball or football because there are more resources you need to play tennis. That’s where we step in.

OFM: Has that opened your eyes at all to what you want to do in the future?

NCN: This has been one of my many ventures. I’ve always been drawn to starting or creating things. That entrepreneurial side is definitely built in me and this is one of my first real impacts from that drive inside of me. I’ve tried other small projects, but this has been the main driver in my experience in this field. I definitely want to keep the nonprofit avenue open in my future career as I head off to college.

OFM: Do you know where you’re going to college?

NCN: I don’t know yet—probably a business school. I’m probably going to leave Florida and explore new territory. I’ve been waiting a long time to leave Orlando and head out into the world.

OFM: Do you hope to play tennis at the next level?

NCN: Tennis is kind of engrained in me and I’ll definitely play tennis in my future. I might try to walk on or play club tennis, and I can expand this organization in college. I’m going to keep playing tennis but the extent of which is unknown right now. I’m sure it will reveal itself in the next year or two.

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

NCN: Trinity is a very intellectual community. The teachers are phenomenal and it’s just a community of students who have passions and are smart kids. It really is enjoyable to be a part of that.

OFM: Aside from your community work and your tennis, what are some of your other interests when you have free time?

NCN: I love to go thrifting, that’s my big thing. I will run around the city looking for thrift shops. I love listening to old music, vintage clothes, all of that is interesting to me. I like to explore that.

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

NCN: I’ve been living here for most of my life in Florida and Orlando. It’s been pretty good to me. There’s so much to do here and I’m grateful.