SPORTS Laker becomes a Lion

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

Windermere Prep alum Ryan

Swoboda recently made Laker history after becoming the first Laker to sign with an NFL team.

Swoboda, who graduated from Windermere Prep in 2017 to later attend the University of Virginia for four years and play a fifth year of football with the University of Central Florida Knights, is ecstatic at the opportunity.

“I love football; I want to play football for as long as I can,” he said. “That’s another reason why I did my last year at UCF, because if I had declared to go to the NFL a year ago at this time, it’s not guaranteed. I wanted to play football for as long as I could. … And now, the option is to go and play professionally. So, going to Detroit is a great opportunity, and I just want to keep playing as long as they let me.”

Growing Into It

Even though he grew up loving football and watching the game with his family, Swoboda did not step onto a football field until his sophomore year of high school.

“I played basketball since I was probably 5 years old,” he said. “I could have (gone) to college to play basketball. … Playing basketball helps with your footwork in football so much because you have to have quick feet.”

Joining the Lakers football team during his sophomore year was a challenge; Swoboda’s growth spurt happened when he was a freshman in high school. He went from being 6-foot-3 at the beginning of the summer to 6-foot-8 before the beginning of his sophomore year.

“The coordination — it takes a while (to get used to the body),” he said. “Especially when you grow a lot so quickly. A lot of people will think if somebody is tall, they’ll naturally be good at basketball and naturally be good at football. Well, I’ve been 6-foot-9 and a bad football player. But you grow into it, you develop the things, you learn how to use your body properly. You learn how to bend and you have to do a lot of work to develop those muscles, because it’s harder when you are taller.”

For Swoboda, returning to school after experiencing such a huge change in stature proved difficult.

“When I first started being an offensive lineman, essentially what you do is you are moving backwards as fast as somebody is sprinting forward, and then you stop them from getting a point behind you,” Swoboda said. “So it’s one of the most unnatural movements of the human body to

SEE NFL PAGE 2B

Offensive tackle Ryan Swoboda is the first Windermere Prep alum to make it to the NFL.

1

The Foundation Academy boys track and field team conquered the regional meet that took place Saturday, May 6. The Lions claimed first, second and third place during the meet, with James “JT” Bronaugh becoming regional champion, Chris “CJ” Bronaugh placing second, and Zephaniah Rogers crossing the finish line soon after him to take third place on the podium. The Lions now are preparing to compete at the state meet Wednesday, May 17.

2

Windermere Prep varsity softball senior team captain Piper Hofmann recently was named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State and All-Academic teams. Hofmann, who usually moves around the third and second bases, also was named FACA Class 3A, District 11, Player of the Year.

3

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4

The Windermere High School varsity baseball team became the Class 7A, District 5 champion after defeating Lake Nona 12-0 Thursday, May 4. The Wolverines — who currently own a 23-3-1 overall season record — advanced to regional play and were scheduled to host Lake Nona for the regional quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, after press time.

5

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