FSN #19

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Volume 1 • Issue 19

Dec 30 - Jan 11 2015 - 2016

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All American Game

WEST ORANGE STAR Woody Barrett Featuring Citrus Bowl Footbal games, High School Basketball Stars, and Much More . . .

Page 2 Florida Sporting News • 12/30/15 - 1/11/16

14 For 14: Windermere Preparatory School

by Sarah Acevedo

The Lakers of Windermere Preparatory School started their spring season off with a bang as team captain, Parker Davis, brought in 10 points for a double digit win although they closed out the fall portion of their season with only one loss, it does not seem as though the Lakers are willing to sit back and enjoy what is left by relaxing. The Lakers are captained by a young man who lives for athletics, and he has begun the spring season strongly. After closing out the fall portion of their season with a remarkable record of 11-1, it is safe to say that it is about time we get to know the young man behind the ball who is making this kind of teamwork possible. After interviewing Windermere’s captain, here are a few things that you may or may not have known about Parker Davis: 1.

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My favorite teams are the Patriots and Detroit Pistons I like watching movies I've been lucky enough to go to 3 Super Bowls and 2 national football championship games I have 3 dogs My first varsity sport was tennis My favorite tv show is Family Guy My favorite artist is ASAP Rocky I didn't play quarterback in middle school I'm a sneaker head I like watching movies I've been to Europe My favorite subject is English I threw a no hitter in baseball I like eating pizza

12/30/15 - 1/11/16 • Florida Sporting News

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West Orange’s Eddie McDoom Commits to Oregon

by Greyson Everidge

ORLANDO - West Orange High School’s Eddie McDoom has officially confirmed his commitment to the Oregon Ducks on Twitter in a short but to the point tweet that read, “Officially committed to the University of Oregon”. In the picture attached to the tweet he can be seen standing with two of the coaches who head the program.

With the commitment, the 6 foot, 170 pound wide receiver has snubbed many other top football teams across the country including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee and many others. While only rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, the wide receiver is highly regarded by football fans and coaches alike and has been well known in the area for a number of years due to his great performances week in and week out.

McDoom has been one of West Orange’s players who have made it to top schools recently as he joins now Notre Dame Player Dexter Williams, Stone

Forsythe University of Florida, Jalen Julius Ole Miss University and Auburn commit Woody Barrett among the top college commits.

McDoom is primarily known for his explosive speed, and once he gets the football in his arms you can kiss him goodbye as that is his strong suit.

He has great hands to gain control of the football, and paired with his ability to separate from his defender and run quick routes, he has become a great ballplayer.

He helped carry West Orange to the State SemiFinals this year, and has already started to get love from Duck fans nationwide. Upon his big announcement he immediately received support over Twitter and Instagram from friends and fans alike.

As the season winds down he will take part in the Under Armour All American game, a huge honor which will take place in McDoom’s hometown, Orlando, at the Citrus Bowl this coming Saturday, January 2. No matter which team you support,

football fans in general are looking forward to being able to watch McDoom at the next level on a national scale.

Page 4 Florida Sporting News • 12/30/15 - 1/11/16

Baylor Beats North Carolina in Russell Athletic Bowl

by Greyson Everidge

ORLANDO- The Baylor Bears (10-3) beat the University of North Carolina Tar Heels (11-3) 49-38 in the Russell Athletic Bowl at the Citrus Bowl this past Tuesday, as both teams finished off good seasons with an exciting game which saw many twists and turns, keeping the game interesting for the fans.

Baylor, who won their first bowl game since 2012, ended a two year losing streak in great fashion as they set two records for this particular bowl.

This was due in part to their number one ranked offence, who produced 645 yards of rushing play and 756 total yards, which is where the two records come in. Keep in mind, they did this missing two quarterbacks, a 1,000 – yard running back and an award-winning receiver. Yet as a unit, they embodied that a team is more important than any individual and that no matter the circumstances any game is a winnable game.

Bears player Jeffery Johnson rushed for a record 299 yards and three touchdowns as the number 18 ranked Baylor comfortably beat their 10th place ranked opponents.

Terence Williams rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and Devin Chafin ran for 161 yards and scored one touchdown for the Tar Heels.

The Tar Heels played well, yet they could not manage to mount the same type of offensive plays that the Bears put out. UNC quarterback Marquise Williams passed for 243 yards and three scores, as well as rushing for two more.

The big question leading up to the game was whether or not the Bears would be able to adapt due to injuries, yet they prevailed and changed tactics as needed. This can be seen in the fact that five players took snaps from the center, running all kinds of plays from those snaps.

It was a truly impressive performance from both teams which left fans with nothing to complain about. The players and staff set the mood early on and kept the intensity and excitement levels high throughout the whole game to make for a great game of football whether you were in the stands amongst the fans, or at home watching on the television.

12/30/15 - 1/11/16 • Florida Sporting News

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Florida Plays Michigan in Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl

by Greyson Everidge

ORLANDO – Florida fans are in for a treat when the Gators come to the Citrus Bowl this Friday, January 1st to take on the Michigan Wolverines in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, to close out a good season by both the Gators and the Wolverines. The Gators, who are ranked 18th in the college football play-off rankings will be looking to keep up their recent trend of 7 bowl wins from their last 9 appearances. One of those two losses came to Michigan in the 2008 Capital One Bowl.

Michigan, who are going into the game in the 10th ranked spot, have been less fortunate in recent bowl games after they have gone to only four bowl games since that one in 2008, and have won only one.

Both teams had ups and down this season, with big wins in unexpected ways

and losses or poor performances to teams the Wolverines. that they should not have done so poorly against. No matter which way you look at That same Gator defense has been the it though, it will be a great game of foot- strong point for the team during a time where many felt the offense was extremely lacking.

The defense turned up big on more than one occasion. It will be a battle of the defenses in this bowl game, with the tighter secondary most likely to walk out with the win from the match.

ball and the fans are the expecting big things. Michigan trained at West Orange High School leading up to the game, which gave some fans a chance to see their team up close and personal.

Experts expect Michigan to struggle in running the ball, and paired with a great Gator defense that could be an issue for

Naturally, the crowd is expected to be pro - Florida as fans will come from across the state to have the chance to watch their team in action during bowl play. The fans are a mixture of anxious and excited, which translates to the players on the field and always makes for a great game of football.

Kick-off is at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Page 6 Florida Sporting News • 12/30/15 - 1/11/16

12/30/15 - 1/11/16 • Florida Sporting News

Florida Cup 2016 The man, the myth, the legend. Few have ever had the flair and the grace that this legend has shown on a soccer pitch. So many athletes train hard every single day and it shows on their faces. Thousands of hours of training and sacrifice strewn across their brows. On the pitch, these players are seen with scowls with eyes full of determination; a hunger to represent their club, their people, their nation. All of these attributes describe this player, albeit with the absence of a scowl. While playing for the likes of FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain, and the Brazilian national team, this individual’s signature smile has lit up the screens of millions of televisions all around the world. Children in Brazilian favelas all dream to have the success of this individual on the global soccer stage.

A boy, bred and raised in the slums of Porto Alegre, who once scored twenty-three goals in a single game at the age of 8, has become one of the most prolific icons of the world’s game. This player’s name? Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known by the world as Ronaldinho.

Winner of two La Liga trophy, one Spanish Supercup trophy, a Champions League trophy, and a 2002 World a cup championship, Ronaldinho has pretty much won it all on a team stage. He has also been named FIFA world player three years in a row from 2003 to 2005.

With such a colored career, it is sad to see Ronaldinho’s tenure coming to an end.

At the age of 35, the player is a shadow of his former self. Even so, he still has the capability of out shining his opponents on the field, with his most recent adventure at Liga MX’s Queretaro being a testament to this. The Central Florida area will have the blessing of seeing Ronaldinho’s possible last moments on a soccer pitch. Ronaldinho will be playing with his current club, Fluminense FC, in the prestigious Florida Cup. The Florida Cup is an international soccer tournament taking place between January 10th and January 20th in the new year. This will be the second year that the tournament will take place in the state of Florida.

This year, the tournament will feature nine clubs from around the world. The clubs include Bayer Leverkusen, FC Schalke 04, Club Atlético Mineiro, SC Corinthians, Fluminense FC, SC Internacional, Shakhtar Donetsk, Independiente Santa Fe and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Fans who attend the tournament will have the pleasure of watching the likes of Ja-

by Saúl Mauricio Torres

vier “Chichairto” Hernandez, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Renato Augusto, and of course Ronaldinho.

There will be total of ten matches played across three venues in the tournament. The games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (6 matches), Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (2 matches) and FAU Stadium in Boca Raton (2 matches). One of the ten matches will be an All-Star match that will be played on Saturday, January 16th, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Florida Cup will be broadcasted live and in prime time in 127 countries. There will be fans from all over the world traveling to Florida to witness their clubs taking on Championsleague level talent and the top talent from South America. Thousands of spectators will watch in awe as they see their idol, Ronaldinho, play the beautiful game in his finals moments on a soccer pitch. Come to the Florida Cup, to experience the beautiful game like never before in the state of Florida. Florida Cup: Where Clubs Become Nations.

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MEDIA ALERT WHAT: 2016 Florida Cup Press Event (rescheduled) WHEN: Thursday, December 17th, 11:30am and 1:30 pm WHERE: Florida Cup HQ (inside of the Tavistock Building), 4705 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Suite 108, Orlando, FL 32819 WHO: Ricardo Villar, Florida Cup CEO – 2SV Sports The 2016 Florida Cup is less than a month away!

Brazilian and German soccer powerhouses will anchor an expanded 9-team field:

Atletico Minero (BRA) Corinthians (BRA) Fluminense (BRA) Internacional (BRA) Bayer Leverkusen (GER) FC Schalke 04 (GER) Independiente Santa Fe (COL) Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (USA)

Page 8 Florida Sporting News • 12/30/15 - 1/11/16

Local Basketball Sta

Chaundee Brown Jr. The First Academy Junior- 6’5” 195lbs

Damon Harge Orlando Christian Prep.

Sophomore- 5’8” 175lbs

David Nickelberry Windermere Prep.

Junior- 6’7” 200lbs

First Academy as one of five teams to watch in Florida boy’s basketball this season. The Royals, who were 26-5 and a Class 3A final four team in 2014-15, gained the notoriety after landing three of the top juniors in Orlando — Chaundee Brown, Malik William and Elijah Jordan — as transfers from perennial 8A power Dr. Phillips.

With that trio and a history of success, First Academy is ranked No. 4 for all classes on a MaxPreps.com’s Florida Fab 5 list that is topped by three-time defending national champion Montverde

Nick Honor Lake Highland Prep.

Sophomore- 5’10” 175lbs

Niko O Oak Rid Senior- 6’

Academy.

“I think that’s grossly over-stating things at this point,” First Academy coach Chris Mayberry said of the acclaim. “We have talent, but we’ve done nothing yet.”

Jordan, a 6-foot-1 guard, has been sidelined by a broken foot during the preseason. But Brown, a 6-5 wing already holding a long list of scholarship offers, and William, a 6-7 shot-swatter, will be major players.

12/30/15 - 1/11/16 • Florida Sporting News

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ars light-up the floor

Oliver dge High ’4” 195lbs

Wyatt Wilkens Winter Park High Junior- 6’7” 227lbs

John Mooney Lake Brantley High Senior- 6’9” 240lbs

Class 8A state runner-up Hagerty, 7A runner-up Kissimmee Osceola, 2A runner-up Agape Christian, and 6A semifinalist Edgewater joined First Academy as area entries in the state tournament last season.

Hagerty, which has point guard Alex Keel but must play this season without injured senior Denzel Mahoney, is now in 7A while Osceola moves up to an 8A. Other big schools that could make a run for a state tourney berth include Winter Park, with 6-8 junior Wyatt Wilkes; Oak Ridge, with guards Michael Devoe and Niko Oliver; Lake Brantley, with 6-9 Notre Dame signee John Mooney; and DP, which still has Jus-

Michael Devoe Oak Ridge High Sophomore- 6’4” 195lbs

Malik Williams The First Academy Junior- 6’8” 220lbs

tin Tucker and tradition.

Class 6A Deltona has high-scoring brothers Evan and Blake Hinson.

Master’s Academy, coming off a 22-5 season, moves up from 3A to duel Lake Highland Prep and Trinity Prep in 4A, District 6.

Windermere Prep has former First Academy forward David Nickleberry and joins the Royals as a threat in 3A. Agape, with 6-8 junior Darrion Fluker, now shares a district with Orlando Christian Prep, which has junior point guard Damon Harge back in its lineup.

Page 10 Florida Sporting News • 12/30/15 - 1/11/16

Under Armour All American Game comes to Orlando

by Greyson Everidge

ORLANDO - One of the biggest high school football events is coming to the Citrus Bowl this Saturday, January 2, at 12 pm, as top prospect ball players are coming together to square off and take part in an event that will be watched nationwide by ex – NFL players, college coaches, and high school players alike. The event, which started on Monday and run through the second will take place at ESPN Wide World of Sports and the Citrus Bowl.

The Under Armour All American game has been running for 8 years, and has seen ProBowlers, first round NFL draft picks, two Super Bowl champions and a Heisman Trophy Winner compete in the event.

Many festivities and competitions build up to the final game which will be played on the second day of the New Year, and will be broadcasted to a large number of sports fans on ESPN2.

Prior to that final game at the Citrus Bowl, training sessions will be held at the ESPN Wide

World of Sports facilities to help the athletes make final adjustments and get to know their teammates for the day. It also gives an opportunity for coaches and fans to get another look at the athletes who will be competing.

There will be 23 Florida based players competing, including Florida State commit Baveon Johnson, Miami commits Sam Bruce and Jack Allison, Auburn commit Woody Barrett and Oregon commit Eddie McDoom.

The atmosphere is a serious one, and the athletes know they are there to turn up big and showcase their talents on a high level before they leave for college at the end of the their senior year. ESPN

has their top picks and players to watch, however in such a competitive event there is sure to be unexpected standouts and game changers that

flourish under the pressure and exposure that the game brings.

All bets are off once the game starts, and the only way to truly predict what will happen will be to watch the game unfold on Saturday.

12/30/15 - 1/11/16 • Florida Sporting News

NFL Alumni Raises over 500 toys for local children in need

by Jennifer Daskevich

Kansas City Steaks was very generous this holiday season and donated prime rib for the charity toy drive sponsored by the NFL Alumni Association of Central Florida. In exchange for the prime rib dinner, NFL Alumni and their families brought unwrapped toys to provide Christmas to kids of all ages through the Orlando Based Charity One Heart for Women and Children.

Thanks to Kansas City Steaks and the NFL Alumni Association – many children had a Christmas that may otherwise have been missing. Founder of One Heart for Women and Children is all smiles with the many generous toy donations.

The party was held at Shubee’s Coastal Grill and Bar who donated food and staffing to the charity dinner as did Gallo Family Wines and Miller Coors with donations of wine and beer.

Thank you so much to all the sponsors for helping the NFL Alumni Association of Central Florida provide Christmas to many local children.

Michael Attardi - President of the NFL Alumni Association of Central Florida and Vice-President Seneca McMillan welcomed over 100 guest to their Christmas party.

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Page 12 Florida Sporting News • 12/30/15 - 1/11/16

Florida Cup 2016 We invite you take part in a press event with two scheduled times for your convenience. Refreshments will be served, and a special gift will be available to media attending. Information on securing exclusive interviews with players will also be discussed, and priority access given to media attending this event. Please RSVP with shirt size by Wednesday December 14th. One-on-one or in studio interviews are also possible anytime this week.

Website: www.Floridacup.com Florida Cup Media Contact: Jeff Radcliffe - 407-721-1967, onairhokie@ yahoo.com Relevant points and highlights: • After just one edition (2015) the Florida Cup is the biggest January preparation cup in the world - turning Central Florida into an international soccer destination for multiple high profile clubs and their supporters.

• Just some of the global stars participating in the 2016 Florida Cup:

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez - Bayer Leverkusen forward and Mexican National Team

by Saúl Mauricio Torres

Brazilian National Team.

Kevin Prince Boateng – FC Schalke 04, former AC Milan midfielder and Ghanian National Teamer.

Ronaldinho – Fluminense forward, 2-time FIFA World Player of the Year (2004,2005) and Brazilian National Team • Successful International Soccer Brands: Elias - Corinthians midfielder and Brazilian National Team Tite - Corinthians manager, 2012 FIFIA Club World Cup Champions Omar Perez - Independiente Sante Fe attacking midfielder, Argentine with over 400 senior team appearances / 3-time Copa Libertadores Champion with Boca Juniors (ARG) Carlos Valdez – Independiente Santa Fe defender, 2012 MLS All-Star, and Columbian National Team.

Anderson – Internacional, former Manchester United midfielder and Brazilian National Team.

Fred – Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder and

2 UEFA Champions League clubs: Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk

1 UEFA Europa League club: FC Schalke 04

FIFA Club World Cup winners: Corinthians (2000, 2012), Internacional (2006) Copa Sudamerica Champion: Independiente Santa Fe • Global exposure to 127 TV channels in 2015.

• Tickets NOW ON SALE at FloridaCup. com – As in the 2015 edition, sellout crowds are expected.

• 2016 Florida Cup Game Schedule:

12/30/15 - 1/11/16 • Florida Sporting News

Florida Cup 2016 January 8 Florida Cup Press Conference – Walt Disney World Resort

World

January 9 Florida Cup Night at Amway Center as the Orlando Magic host the Washington Wizards (with special soccer themed pregame and in-game promotions)

January 13 Schalke (Germany) vs. Atlético MG (Brazil) 6:30 p.m. – Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale Bayer (Germany) vs. Inter (Brazil) - 8:30 p.m. - ESPN Complex, Walt Disney World

January 10 Bayer (Germany) vs. Santa Fe (Colombia) 5:00 p.m. - ESPN Complex, Walt Disney World Schalke (Germany) vs. Strikers (US) 7:30 p.m. - ESPN Complex, Walt Disney

January 16 ALL-STAR GAME (feature former/ retired soccer stars)– 6:30 p.m. - ESPN Complex, Walt Disney World January 17 Shakhtar (Ukraine) vs. Fluminense (Bra-

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by Saúl Mauricio Torres

zil) 2:00 p.m. - ESPN Complex, Walt Disney World Corinthians (Brazil) vs. Atlético MG (Brazil) 2:00 p.m. – FAU Stadium, Boca Raton Strikers (US) vs. Santa Fe (Colombia) – 4:30 p.m. – FAU Stadium, Boca Raton January 20 Corinthians (Brazil) vs. Shakhtar (Ukraine) 6:45 p.m. - ESPN Complex, Walt Disney World Fluminense (Brazil) vs. Inter (Brazil) – 6:45 p.m. – Lockhart Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale

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