HIGH 5 What a ride!

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The Windermere High School girls varsity flag football opened its season with a 39-13 win over The Villages Charter 39-13 Monday, Feb. 27. The girls will take on another opponent as they are set to travel to Lakewood Ranch at 7 p.m. Friday, March 3. On the JV side, Lady Wolverines defeated the Lady Buffalos with a 20-0 win.

The West Orange High School JV boys basketball team has a new head coach, former Ocoee High School freshman boys head basketball coach Dell Coates. “I’m thankful for a new opportunity to help my community,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.” Coates will take on the task to lead the Warriors during their long off-season and get them ready for their next basketball season come winter. This will be Coates’ second year coaching high school athletes. The school is still in conversations with Coates about the position. 3

The Ocoee High School boys and girls track team competed at the West Orange Dr. Baptiste Track Invitational

Friday, March 3. Of the 20 teams that participated in the meet, the Lady Knights brought home the gold, while the boys brought home the bronze. On the girls side, the 4x100 relay team of Destiny Cladwell, Leneah Green, Bertina Green and Jayla Newton placed second; Ma’kayla Davis placed first in the high jump and triple jump, and finished second in the long jump division; Brooklyn Bender placed second in shot put; and Leneah Green also placed second in the 100and 200-meter events. On the boys side, Dylan Horne placed first in the shot put and discus category, and Taylor Douglas placed second in the shot put category. 4

The Foundation Academy varsity baseball team shut out Apopka High School 8-0 Thursday, March 2. Pitcher Nate Seeber was on the mound the entire game. Seeber allowed three hits and walked two while striking out 10. The Lions have an overall season record of 3-1 and are scheduled to host IMG Academy Friday, March 10, for a nondistrict game. 5

Mili’s Gym hosted its second annual Rosie the Riveter Women’s Powerlifting Championship Saturday, March 4. Four teams competed for the gold — Florida Gators, Mili’s Gym, Schulze Strength and Team Heart. The home team, Mili’s Gym, earned gold. The event was hosted with the intention of honoring Women’s History Month. In fact, 19% of the proceeds will be donated to Women Voice Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, encouraging and empowering women. Amna Chaudhary, who competed in the junior division, earned the overall best lifter award during the meet.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

The Windermere High School boys basketball team’s incredible journey ended one win short of a state championship. The Lakers fell to Riviera Prep 51-27 during the championship game Saturday, March 4.

“I’m extremely proud of our group,” head basketball coach Brian Hoff said. “This is a group that kind of from the beginning of the season was sort of doubted. We overcame a lot; we got a ton better as the year progressed. The group … bonded very well as a team; we just didn’t play our best. So, it stinks that it came in this moment, but over the course of the year, this group defied odds, and I’m just proud of their togetherness and proud of their competitiveness in order to get this far.”

Despite the loss at the state championship game, this was a season for the Lakers’ history books. The team had not made it that far into post season play since 2016, when the program brought home their first — and only — state championship title.

“(We are) special,” freshman shooting guard Brandon Bass Jr. said. “And I feel that’s what helped us get to where we (got this season).”

In a fast-paced game, the Bulldogs pulled ahead of the Lakers early — taking the lead during the first quarter. Windermere Prep never recovered.

“I thought their defense was great,” Hoff said. “I thought they were in the passing lanes, (and) their passing lane pressure affected a lot of the stuff that we ran.”

Senior point guard Aiden Fletcher helped lead the team during his last game as a Laker.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “We all came together. Young guys put their trust in me, and I put my trust in them. We came a long way. We didn’t get the results that we wanted, but I had a great time with those guys.”

Through the season, Windermere Prep team had something no other team led by Hoff had had in previous years: three freshmen in its top-six rotation. Those included Bass Jr., center Sinan Huan and small forward or shooting guard Shiva Atwal.

“To have three young guys like that, it’s unusual (and) it’s uncommon,” Hoff said. “But, these freshman are unusual in a good way. They worked extremely hard, they are extremely talented and this moment (was) not too big for them.”

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Kurt Kitayama wins Arnold Palmer Invitational

Kitayama bettered all the big names present at the Arnold Palmer Invitational — Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Harris English — and jumped from No. 46 to No. 19 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

The 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational welcomed a new name to the list of winners: Kurt Kitayama, who collected his first win at the PGA Tour Sunday, March 5.

“It’s pretty amazing,” he said. “Just to get your first one I think it’s an unbelievable thing, (and) I’m lucky enough to have had it at a very special place, so it’s a bonus.”

Nicknamed “The Project” during his college years at the University of Nevada — Las Vegas, Kitayama was able to prove himself to all the big names in the sport, including past API champions such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell

Hatton and Jason Day.

“My iron game has jumped a level and my shorter game has seen a big level of increase rate,” Kitayama said. “Just finding the little successes around the world and making it out here, put myself in the contention, you start to really believe in yourself — that you belong out here.”

Prior to competing at the API, during his time as a pro golfer, Kitayama had participated in 10 tours — including Canada, Europe, PGA, Korea, Asian Development Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, India and Sunshine.

SUNDAY AT BAY HILL

With thousands of spectators at the

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