API tees o this week at Bay Hill

West Orange senior and varsity boys lacrosse goalie and captain Jack Gray is leading the Warriors during his last season with the team. Gray currently has a total of 36 saves while the team holds currently a 4-1 season record.

Talk to us about your years as a lacrosse player.

I started lacrosse in sixth grade.

I’ve played other sports: baseball, soccer, football; and lacrosse was a sport I really wanted to pursue.

… I recently just started playing goalie my sophomore year of high school, practiced a lot and worked my way through the ranks within my team so I could become a starting goalie my sophomore year.

Do you like being goalie?

It’s very nice position, (but it’s also) a mentally tough position, because it’s easy to get in your head. So you really have to fight yourself during games and stuff, and have short-term memory loss just to go on to the next play.

What do you love most about lacrosse as a sport?

I love the team aspect of it. … Lacrosse is very team-oriented, where we have different guys that will help you out, and we share a special camaraderie among each other. … It’s the brotherhood that I have and share with everybody on my team.

Do you have a favorite drill to do at practice?

The West Jenny. It’s basically a 3-versus-2; it’s very fast-paced. … It really helps on spacing, shooting precisely and accurately, and just placing the ball.

How do you believe you instill leadership in your team?

I lead by example. … We have new freshmen every year, and so if leaders like me and a few other seniors … don’t do things properly, then the freshmen are going to do the same. … You want to put out what you want to do so the younger guys can learn the correct way.

What would you like to study in college? I want to be a dentist, and I want

The Basics

Age: 18

Sport: Lacrosse

Position: Goalie

Grade: 12 School: West Orange

Do you have a favorite professional lacrosse player?

Jack Concannon. … He gets really low in the goal. We get shorter in the goal to try to bait the shooters to shoot high, so we kind of play a mental game with them.

Where are you going to college?

Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

What’s your favorite hobby?

I like to woodwork. During COVID, I was so bored, I didn’t know what to do, and I saw a video on YouTube about woodworking. The next year, I joined the woodworking class at WOHS had at the time, and I enjoyed it. … I do make little projects to sell to people.

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?

My lacrosse stick, some sort of care kit bag in case something happens and my dog — Roughy.

What’s your favorite type of music?

I’m not really that picky about music. I do listen to a lot of country and rap.

Who is your favorite superhero?

Why?

Spider-Man, … He’s a regular teenager with regular problems, but he also has a big responsibility.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Definitely invisibility. … I’m the type of person that doesn’t really like to be put out there a lot and a

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However, to make the invitational a reality, there is a lot of behind-thescenes work that takes place spectators and fans seldom see.

More than 1,400 volunteers pour more than 50,000 hours of volunteer work every year to provide the Bay Hill community and other attendees — as well as PGA Tour players — the best experience possible.

“We have certain members that work on (the Arnold Palmer Invitational) year-round in leadership positions,” API Marketing Manager Cav Neutze said. “But, primarily, the volunteers start working the Saturday before the tournament.”

An example of this is St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Every year, the Southwest Orange church offers shuttle services to help alleviate traffic within the Bay Hill community.

“It’s pivotal,” Neutze said. “We could not do the event without that. I think having that buy-in from local partners and the ability to be able to rely on local partners like that one makes the event possible. (It also) makes the event what it is, because we are a local event, and we call ourselves the Orlando Signature event for a reason. So being able to count on your neighbors is really important to us and I think it’s something that Mr. (Arnold) Palmer would be very proud of.”

The API also features a series of special events, such as a Throwback Thursday, a Wine and Dine on 9, Birdies and BBQ, Patriots Outpost and White Claw Fan Deck.

Not only will fans be able to enjoy unique events this year, but they also will be able to enjoy food from local restaurants that will provide munch bites to those who feel hungry during the tournament. At the small business marketplace, Miapa Latin Cafe and DF Bakery will have a tent set up, and at the White Claw Fan Deck, local food truck Treehouse Truck will feed the bellies of the hungry.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

This year, player commitment is unprecedented, as 27 out of the Top 30 golfers in the world are competing for the coveted API trophy.

“The best players in the world are going to be here,” Neutze said. “They come to Bay Hill, and I think that’s an opportunity for the local community to get to see something really special. These guys are the best of the best in what they do, and they have been coming to Bay Hill since 1979. I think that legacy and that opportunity should be a badge of honor to the local community, and I think they wear that proudly.”

Neutze said the event offers something for everyone — whether it’s families with kids, a group of adults with friends, first-time visitors or longtime fans.

“Everything we do it top-notch,” he said. “We are a premier event on the PGA Tour, and we try to conduct ourselves accordingly. Everyone dresses really nicely when they come out here, and everyone is very respectful.”

All proceeds benefit the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation.

LOCAL BENEFICIARIES

Several local organizations partake in the event through concession tents and stands to fund money to their respective programs and activities.

Since 2020, the Windermere High School marching band has been offered a spot at the API, an opportunity the Wolverines are excited to see through as it provides funds that go toward the band — either for the purchase of new instruments, uniforms or any band related expenses.

“We receive a percentage of the sales from the lodge, and we receive credit card tips or cash tips, and they’ll send us a check,” Windermere band mom Tracy Rivera said.

“It’s a pretty big fundraiser for the band, all parent-run. … Some of the spectators that come by (the tent) come see the kids work in the event … and are able to get an idea of why they are so excited to being in the band.”

Horizon West Middle School also will be one of the local schools participating in the API — and has been a part of the event for the last three years.

“This year we have a larger booth,” Horizon West Middle PTSO President Beth Siegmann said. “We average about $5,000 (or more), and that money goes to providing necessary resources for our students and teachers. And, this year we want to give back to the community as well, so we have partnered with (All Saints Lutheran Church) to help assist with the food pantry that they do twice a week, and so we are going to give a donation to them for the food pantry to buy supply from Second Harvest (Food Bank) and pick up the necessary needs to provide food to local families.”

Special Events

THROWBACK THURSDAY:

Fans who purchased all-inclusive tickets for Thursday will get the opportunity to enjoy the event from the landing o the ninth fairway while sipping complimentary Anheuser-Busch beer. They also have a chance to take pictures with trophies from previous years and purchase exclusive gear. Tickets also include ground admission for Thursday, an exclusive throwback merchandise item and a signature bottleopener.

WINE AND DINE ON 9: From 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, fans will be able to munch on food from local restaurants, such as American Social Bar and Kitchen, Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, Brio, Burntwood, Jimmy Hula’s, Fresh & Co, Melting Pot, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ocean Prime, Rocco’s Tacos, Slate, Vines, Oceanaire, Eddie V’s, Delfrisco’s, The Palm, Dragon y Sushi, Capital Grille, Maggiiano’s Little Italy and My Lounge. The event is presented by Kendall-Jackson.

BIRDIES AND BBQ: Fans will have a day to enjoy Smokehouse BBQ, Anheuser-Busch beer and will be able to take home a commemorative koozie.

PATRIOTS’ OUTPOST: All guests with a military ticket are welcome to join the Patriots’ Outpost located by the ninth fairway where they can enjoy complimentary food and non-alcoholic drinks.

WHITE CLAW FAN DECK:

This deck has been a part of the event in previous years, but in 2023, fans will be able to enjoy a much improved White Claw Fan Deck. Located at the 15th green and 16th tee, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy an upclose-and-personal view of their favorite PGA Tour golfers while in the shade.

Top Golfers Committed To Api

Patrick Cantlay

Tony Finau

Max Homa

Viktor Hovland

Kevin Kisner

Shane Lowry

Rory McIlroy

Collin Morikawa

Jon Rahm

Justin Rose

Xander Schau ele

Scottie Sche er

Adam Scott

Justin Thomas