The return of another school year means the return of our area’s elite young athletes, and what we anticipate to be another fall season of intense and exciting play. While most local students spent their summers hitting the beach or taking seasonal jobs, these competitors were hard at work, focused on the year ahead and the games that will push their skills to the limit in the approaching months.

Join us as we take a look at fall varsity sports for 2016, including football, volleyball, girls and boys swimming, girls and boys cross country, and girls and boys golf. We take a look at the previous year’s results from 31 schools to predict what lies ahead and share what athletes you should watch out for at the next big game. This year, participating high schools in Orange and Seminole counties include Apopka, Boone, Colonial, Cypress Creek, Dr. Phillips, East River, Edgewater, Evans, The First Academy, Freedom, Hagerty, Jones, Lake Brantley, Lake Highland, Lake Howell, Lake Mary, Lake Nona, Lyman, The Master’s Academy, Oak Ridge, Ocoee, Olympia, Oviedo, Seminole, Timber Creek, Trinity Prep, University, Wekiva, West Orange, Winter Park and Winter Springs.

Keep this issue on hand as your guide to the coming season, because by the looks of things, every single moment matters.

Cover photo provided by Allison Petro.