OFM: The 2019 season was memorable for you, as you placed in the top eight at states in four different events. What was the highlight?
AU:The state title, of course. I worked hard to get that title and overcame a lot of adversity. It means a lot [to make school history]. I can be the face of the [program] and the next generation can learn from me and pick up where I leave off.OFM: Did you think a state championship was attainable coming into last season?
AU:I knew it was attainable but I didn’t think it would come in that event, considering I just started the triple jump last year. All the hard work paid off. I continued to get up after getting knocked down and continued to critique things. My coaches pushed me and people on the boys side also helped me.OFM: You also compete in the long jump, the high jump and the hurdles. Do you have a favorite event?
AU:I would say either the high jump or the hurdles. I feel comfortable with all of them and I’ve been successful with all of them. It’s a lot of work but it’s fun. If you fail at one, there’s always another one you can depend on. It can be tiring—sometimes I only get 5 or 10 minutes in between events—but that’s OK.OFM: When did you start competing in track?
AU:I started in sixth grade but before that I was running with my dad. I was determined to beat him so that’s why I signed up. He was really fast but I eventually beat him.OFM: What are your goals for your senior season?
AU:My main goal is to get four more state titles, in all of my events. I also want to have fun because it’s my senior year and I’ve been doing this for a long time. It’s finally time to say goodbye to high school and move on to the next stage.OFM: What led to your decision to commit to Ohio State?
AU:I really liked how the team and coaches are like family. I like how big the school is and how supportive everybody is. The coaches seem like they work really hard and are committed. It’s just a big family, and I also have actual family [members] who live near there, so it felt comfortable.OFM: Are you nervous about going to school far from home?
AU:A little bit. I’m terrified, actually, but it will be OK. The cold weather will be hard at first, but I’ll adapt.OFM: Do you know what you want to study?
AU:Not yet, but I am leaning toward the arts, like dance/music.OFM: What is your ultimate goal in track? Have you thought about the Olympics?
AU:Yes. I would love to get there. I want to work hard and train and hopefully make the Olympics.OFM: What was it like coming to a brand-new school when Windermere opened for your sophomore year?
AU:At first it was weird, but it eventually became like home. It was a weird transition because I had to leave some people I’ve known since elementary school, but it all worked out.OFM: What do you like to do for fun away from track?
AU:I like to dance and I’m in the orchestra, so I like to play music. I’ve been playing the violin since sixth grade.Dylan Crews, Lake Mary baseball
Considered one of the best high school prospects in the country, this senior center fielder batted .389 with 28 runs and 15 stolen bases as a junior. Named a Perfect Game All-American last summer, Crews is committed to LSU but is expected to be a high pick in June’s MLB Draft.

OFM: This is a big year for you with a lot of expectations. How are you handling the pressure that comes along with that?
DC: I don’t really look at it as pressure. I’ve worked really hard for moments like this, so you just have to take every day like it’s your last and give 110 percent. You don’t know what the next day holds for you.

OFM: You’ve played for 18U national team and played all over the country with other organizations. Do you still enjoy playing for the high school team?
DC: Oh yeah. I love going out there every day, playing with the guys at school and trying to compete for a state championship. It’s my last year so I’m trying to go out with a bang. I’m shooting for a state championship and I’m trying to break the stolen base record and hopefully the home run record too [for a single season]. I’m feeling really good right now so I feel like I can get those goals accomplished.

OFM: I hear you have a batting cage in your backyard, which allows you to spend a lot of hours working on your swing. Do you credit your development on your work ethic?
DC: Yes. Growing up I wasn’t the flashiest kid or a big-name kid. At 12 years old, I told my parents I wanted to be a major-leaguer someday. My parents are successful people and seeing how hard they work motivates me and makes me want to work every day.

OFM: Did your dad get you into baseball in the first place?
DC: Yes. He was a baseball player and he kind of introduced me to the game. I also had a hitting coach who unfortunately passed away, but he taught me everything that I needed to know about this game. He taught me how to work hard, because you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t work. One of the things I carry along with me is that a lot of people can talk the talk, but not that many can walk the walk. I feel like that’s a big factor that separates me from a lot of people.

OFM: You’ve had a lot of memorable experiences in baseball the last few years. What stands out so far on your journey?
DC: It’s definitely been a very special journey. Not many kids can say they’ve played in multiple big-league stadiums and traveled the world with the national team. It’s very special and I’m very thankful for it.

OFM: Which MLB parks have you played in?
DC: I’ve played at Petco, I’ve played at the Diamondbacks’ stadium, I’ve played at Wrigley and Fenway, I’ve played at Tropicana Field and I’ve played at Dodger Stadium. That was pretty much all last summer—it was probably the best summer I ever had. I think my favorite one was Boston. I really liked the Green Monster and it’s very historic there.

OFM: Did you get a hit off the Green Monster?
DC: Yeah, I hit a double off the Green Monster. That was pretty sweet. Putting a dent off the Green Monster, where so many big-leaguers have put their mark, was cool.

OFM: But aren’t you a Yankee fan?
DC: Yes, I grew up a Yankee fan. I was a big Derek Jeter fan growing up. I just loved the way he played. They called him “The Captain” for a reason—he always gave 110 percent. Now that he’s retired my favorite player is Mike Trout. I model my game after him in every way I can, and hopefully I can be like him one day.

OFM: Didn’t you get to play for Derek Jeter?
DC: Yes, he was my coach in the PDP (Player Development Pipeline) League over at IMG Academy. He’s a great guy. He’s one of those guys you listen to the entire time he’s talking. The feedback he gives is amazing and it was really awesome to talk with him and get some pointers from him in every part of my game.

OFM: What made you commit to LSU?
DC: I was very open about it. I visited about 15 different schools my sophomore year and I wanted to see everything and get a taste of everything. When I stepped foot on LSU’s campus, you could kind of just feel it. There was something special about it and the people were amazing. I don’t ever have to worry about going hungry, because their food is amazing. I really wanted to play with the best of the best and play in the SEC, so that was also a big factor in my decision. The coaches there fit perfectly with me; they have great personalities and they’re father figures. I felt like that was the best place for me to be for the next four years of my life.

OFM: So you’ll either end up at LSU or decide to start your pro career right away, depending on where you get drafted. Do you see it as a win-win situation?
DC: Yeah. I’m just going out there and giving it all I’ve got every game I play, and wherever the chips fall, it’s a win-win either way. I could play for a really good program at LSU and compete for a national championship, or I could start my professional career and play the game I love every day.

OFM: Riley Greene from Hagerty was chosen fifth overall by the Tigers in last year’s MLB Draft. Do you know him well?
DC: Yeah, I know Riley really well. We played together on the 18U national team and that was a lot of fun. I was playing with Riley, Bobby Witt and C.J. Abrams—all those big-name guys. Those are three of the top six picks in the [2019] MLB Draft, so it was something special hanging with those guys, getting feedback and getting to know them. Me, my mom and my dad communicate with them and their parents about what to expect [with the draft process]. They tell me to give it all I’ve got and not change anything when people come out to watch me.

OFM: Is it exciting or nerve-wracking to think about what team is going to draft you?
DC: It’s actually pretty cool. I’m just thankful for the position that I’m in and I don’t pick certain teams over others. Whatever happens, happens.

OFM: What do you like to do when you’re not playing baseball?
DC: I love fishing, I love golfing and I love going to the beach. That takes my mind off baseball and allows me to be 17.

OFM: What do you like about Central Florida?
DC: I’ve grown up here and lived here my whole life. The people here are amazing and it’s a great baseball area. There are so many resources here and so many good players. The weather is nice and the beaches aren’t too far away. I love this area.

OFM: Do you have a favorite baseball movie?
DC: Definitely The Sandlot. I’ve watched that movie so many times. I don’t know why, but I just love that movie.

Hudson Bohn, Lake Highland boys lacrosse
Bohn, a senior faceoff specialist, broke his own state record for ground balls in a season with 150 last year and was named team MVP after leading Lake Highland to a district title and the region final. He is poised for a big senior season before continuing his career at Penn State.

OFM: Are you excited to see what Lake Highland can accomplish in your final season?
HB: I’m very excited. We have a really, really special team and we’re looking better than ever this year. A state championship is the one goal we all have in mind. This team has definitely been different from past years; our coach said he’s never seen a team perform so well in the first week of tryouts. We have almost 20 seniors, and it’s a great mix of older and younger players because some of our freshmen and sophomores have risen to the occasion. We have high expectations.

OFM: You started your high school career at Bishop Moore, and lost to your old teammates in last year’s region final. Is that a big rivalry for you?
HB: For sure. That’s a great group of guys over there, but when the game is on the line it gets a little chippy. It’s definitely a big, crosstown rivalry.

OFM: How did the transition to a new team and school go for you last year?
HB: I’d say it was a little different. I still hang out with a lot of the guys from my old school, but I’ve met a lot of new friends [at Lake Highland] and it’s a great group of guys. They’re fun to be around but they definitely take their job seriously, and that’s the kind of people I want to be around. They make you better, for sure.

OFM: How did you first get started in lacrosse?
HB: I started in first grade. I started with Swarm Lacrosse Club, which is kind of a feeder team for Bishop Moore. My parents didn’t want me to play football and it wasn’t a big interest for me. I saw this new sport coming up in Florida and I took advantage of it. It’s a very exciting sport and I fell in love with it.

OFM: When did you develop a talent for taking the faceoff?
HB: I was an LSM in fifth grade and I was playing up a level, so I was with sixth- and seventh-graders. I think it was during a tournament that summer that they needed somebody for the faceoff. I was a bigger kid at the time and I had a height and weight advantage, so they threw me out there and I fell in love with it. I saw it as a way to get more playing time and become a better player all the way around. I started training at the Faceoff Factory and I won an event there. From there, I worked with people like Brendan Fowler and Greg Gurenlian and got their advice. I also worked on my own, watched videos and developed my skills over the years. I think that helped separate me from other kids. You can have the best technique and the best form, but it takes a couple of years to hear that whistle and develop your reactions.

OFM: Is your state record for ground balls in a season special to you, especially since picking up ground balls requires a lot of determination?
HB: Even if you lose the initial faceoff, fighting for the ball is everything. It doesn’t really matter if you win the clamp and pull it out and the other team gets it. What actually counts as a faceoff win is getting that ground ball, picking it up and possessing it for your team. If you win the ball 70 or 80 percent of the time, it’s going to create a huge advantage. I don’t really look [at records], but it’s really cool to see what I can accomplish when I put my mind to something. I’m just happy to contribute as much as I can to our team and our winning mentality.

OFM: Do you like to contribute offensively as well?
HB: I do. At Bishop Moore I didn’t really get involved in the offense as much, but I played quite a bit of offense during my junior year at Lake Highland. It can be tough to juggle both of those things and it can wear on my body, so my coach definitely wants me to take it down a little bit this year and focus solely on being a faceoff guy. People don’t realize how much goes into taking those draws—especially when you’re taking 15 or 20 faceoffs in a game. I can still go down there and score goals and get assists [at times], but it’s more about pushing the ball in transition off the faceoff and creating opportunities for my teammates.

OFM: What made you commit to Penn State for college?
HB: I loved everything about it. The coaching staff is incredible, the campus is unreal and the high level of lacrosse is really what attracted me. I previously committed to Holy Cross coming into my freshman year, before I even played a lick of high school lacrosse. It’s a much smaller school and still a very good team, but obviously not on the level of Penn State. They also have a great alumni network and the opportunities for my major are endless there. I’m really excited to get up there.

OFM: What are you going to study?
HB: I want to go into a communications with a focus on films. I’m hoping to become a director. I just love movies and always have since I was a little kid. I’ve done stuff here and there and I’ve taken a bunch of video art classes throughout high school. I was actually just at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah and I went to a lot of Q-and-A [sessions] with directors there. It’s something I’ve always been interested in and I want to take a shot at it.

OFM: What was the experience like at Sundance?
HB: It was awesome. I was trying to get to the new Will Ferrell movie, because that was the big headliner this year and took the most awards, but I didn’t. I did see some other good ones. I saw a documentary that was actually based in Florida about the retirement community at The Villages, and that was pretty interesting. I saw another one that was kind of a spinoff of Peter Pan; it was told from the perspective of Wendy and it was pretty cool. It was nice to speak to the directors afterward and get their opinions about getting into movies and what to expect when you’re in the industry.

OFM: Who are some of the directors you look up to and admire?
HB: That’s a tough one. Steven Spielberg is one who everybody knows. Quentin Tarantino is another big one. I really like his new movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Those two are probably my favorite directors.

OFM: Have you always lived in Florida? What do you like about growing up here?
HB: I was born in College Park and I’ve been in the Orlando area my whole life. I love going out on the boat and I love fishing. I’ve also had a lot of friends through the years and met a lot of great people, especially going to two different schools. … I have a tight community here and it’s cool because everyone comes together and you get to see different perspectives.

OFM: Are you nervous about going up north for college?
HB: [Laughs] Not too much. I travel a lot for lacrosse so I know what to expect. I know how cold it’s going to be, especially when we’re playing. I’ve played in the snow before and it’s definitely a different feeling than the Florida humidity. It will definitely take some getting used to, but nothing too major. I’m ready for a change and I’m ready to strap on the winter jacket.

Nyah Vogel, Apopka softball
A senior pitcher, Vogel is coming off a memorable junior season in which she went 17-2 with a 0.90 ERA and 132 strikeouts to lead Apopka to district and region championships and an appearance in the state semifinals. She is committed to South Carolina Upstate.

OFM: Last year was obviously a special season. Are you looking forward to seeing what you can accomplish in 2020?
NV: Definitely. I feel like we’re better than last year because we’re more seasoned and we only lost one player. We should be pretty strong. I think we can go even farther than last year. We have a tougher schedule and that will prepare us better. We’re ready to go and win states this year.

OFM: Are you taking on a leadership role?
NV: Definitely. Last year we only had one senior so I had a talk with coach Mike [MacWithey] and I really had to prepare myself and step into a leadership role.

OFM: What was the key to your individual success last year?
NV: Getting to know the girls on my team very well. We all got along and I was super comfortable with my defense. Knowing that all of those girls had my back made it easier to pitch and throw my game. I worked really hard in the offseason and prepared myself.

OFM: Have you always been a pitcher?
NV: Yes, since my first season. I was told I looked like a pitcher, so they taught me how to pitch and I stuck with it. I started when I was 9.

OFM: What do you enjoy about pitching?
NV: I like being able to control the game. I like going at my pace and I love the pressure. I like being the one that [my teammates] depend on.

OFM: What do you consider your best pitch?
NV: I rely heavily on my curveball and riseball; those are my two best pitches. We look at where the batter is set up, the at-bats they’ve had before, and determine which pitch is going to work for that batter. Some batters might set up away from the plate, so I’ll throw outside so they can’t reach it. If they’re crowding the plate, I’ll come hard and in with a screwball or a riseball.

OFM: Is there a pitcher you like to model your game after?
NV: [Former University of Florida standout] Lauren Hager. I met her when I was younger and I tried to follow in her footsteps. I would always go talk to her and she gave me a lot of advice. I also look up to my pitching coach [Jodi Bayles]. She was a pitcher in college and she has helped me through so much to make me the pitcher I am. I’ve been working with her since my freshman year.

OFM: If you could pick an entrance song like a major-league closer, what song would you pick?
NV: I honestly never thought about that. It would have to be a really hyped up song.

OFM: You had a strong season at the plate last year to go along with your pitching. Do you enjoy that part of the game too?
NV: Yes. When I was younger, hitting wasn’t my favorite thing to do, but I worked very, very hard at it. As soon as I got really good at hitting, I loved it. That was one of the things that helped me pick my college. I wanted to hit in college as well as pitch.

OFM: What did you like about the school and softball program at South Carolina Upstate?
NV: I really wanted to get out of Florida. I met the coach when I was in eighth grade and I was always pretty close with him. I finally visited the campus this summer and absolutely loved it. I love South Carolina and I have family that’s pretty close to the school in Tennessee. The softball program is great and so are all of the girls on the team.

OFM: Do you know what you want to study?
NV: I’m going to study sports medicine. I’m looking to do physical therapy.

OFM: Why were you looking to go to school out of state?
NV: I’ve lived in the same place my whole life. For travel ball, we travel all over—last summer I played in seven different states. I knew I couldn’t go out west, because that’s just not my thing. But I love South Carolina. It’s my favorite place to visit and I knew I wanted to go somewhere with the different seasons.

OFM: What are you going to miss about Central Florida?
NV: I love that there’s always something to do and the people are great here. The softball community is pretty great too, because we all know each other. It’s very competitive in Orlando.

OFM: What are your hobbies away from softball?
NV: I go to a lot of sporting events. My dad is the head lacrosse coach at Apopka so I go to his games. My brother also grew up playing sports, so I’ve always gone to his games. I also like to hang out with friends and go bowling or just hang out at different places.

OFM: Did your dad ever try to get you into lacrosse?
NV: I played when I was younger but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as softball. I started playing sports when I was 3 years old and my dad was my first coach in soccer. He’s always been my rock. I’ve always been very close with him and he comes to every single game that he can. Off the field, he’s the first person I go to, to talk about the game, and whenever I’m outside practicing he’ll come out and help me.

Patrick Baney, Lake Nona boys tennis
Baney, a senior who competes at first singles, was a big part of a special season at Lake Nona last year, as the Lions captured a district title, reached the state final for the first time in program history and finished with a 23-1 record. A LeTourneau University commit, he also reached the quarterfinals of the state singles tournament.