OFM_FallStudentAthletes_0919 - FINAL_OFM 8 / 22 / 19 2 : 31 PM Page 6 A 6 - foot - 4 , 300 - pound senior defensive tackle , Carter is considered one of the top prospects in the country and was recruited by a host of major programs , ultimately picking Georgia over the likes of Alabama and Clemson . He hopes JALEN CARTER to lead Apopka to its fourth state title since 2001 this year before moving on to the SEC . APOPKA FOOTBALL ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE : Speaking of the NFL , several OFM : How are you feeling heading into your Apopka players — including Hall of ?nal season at Apopka ? Famer Warren Sapp — have played in the JALEN CARTER : I’m feeling very con? - league . Have you thought about mak - dent . I think this is going to be my best ing it to the pros ? JC : Yes sir . I’ve talked to some of the peo - year . I want to get the team bonded and ple who have made it to the league , and make sure we all play together and for they tell me I can really be something big each other . if I keep working hard . I have to keep lis - Is this transition from Rick tening to my coaches and keep doing OFM : Darlington to Jeff Rolson as head everything I’m doing . coach at Apopka going smoothly ? JC : Yes sir . We learned a lot from Coach D . What led to your decision to OFM : We learned how to be a man and we’re choose Georgia for college ? JC : On my ?rst visit , Georgia felt comfort - keeping that with us . But we have a new able and it felt like home . The coaches coach and he’s great . I like that he’s a de - were good to me and told me how things fensive guy and he knows everything about were going to be . My goal is to start as a all of the positions : D - line , corners , freshman , or at least get in the games a safeties , everything . lot and show them what I can do . When did you start playing foot - OFM : Georgia head coach Kirby ball ? OFM : JC : I’ve been playing since third or fourth Smart has a defensive background . Are grade . Most of the people I’m playing with you excited to play for him and to play now , we grew up playing together . We know in the SEC ? JC : Yes sir . He’s a very cool guy and he in - each other well . The reason I started is be - teracts with all of the players . I think play - cause someone on my dad’s side was in ing in the SEC is going to be awesome . It’s the NFL and I really looked up to him . My everything that I worked for . mom signed me up and it just went on from there . MORE ATHLETES WE’RE KEEPING OUR EYES ON THIS SEASON Full list available online at OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com Notre Dame commit , repeated as the last year and helped The First Academy Elli McKissock , The First Academy : F O O T B A L L Class 1A state champion in the 100 repeat as team champs . McKissock , a senior libero , recorded 638 Keonte Coffie , Oviedo : A workhorse freestyle last year and added a state digs as a junior , increasing her career running back for Oviedo , this senior crown in the 200 free . total to 1,490 . The Florida commit also rushed for 1,545 yards and 12 touchdowns B O Y S C R O S S C O U N T R Y had 62 aces . last season to help the Lions claim a Kayamo Galloway , Oviedo : A region district title . G I R L S S W I M M I N G champion last year as a junior , Galloway B O Y S G O L F Julia Brown , Olympia : A junior diver , went on to place fifth at the Class 4A Jonah Leach , Olympia : A senior Florida Tommi Hill , Edgewater : A junior who Brown was a member of the Metro state championships . He teams with commit , Leach placed second at districts , shines on both sides of the ball at wide Conference , district , regional and state his brother Mamush to give the Lions third at regionals and seventh in the receiver and defensive back , Hill has al - all - star teams as a sophomore after an outstanding duo at the front of the Class 3A state tournament in 2018 . ready developed chemistry with new placing ninth at the Class 4A state meet . pack . quarterback Canaan Mobley . He has col - Michael Mays , Winter Park : Mays , a lege offers from Alabama and Ohio State , Leah Gentry , Freedom : After placing Liam Pirie , Windermere : A senior , Pirie junior , helped lead Winter Park to its among many others . second in the 100 breaststroke at the claimed fifth at regionals last fall and first state title last year as he placed Class 4A state meet each of her first went on to place 23rd at the Class 4A sixth at the Class 3A tournament . This Ethan Pouncey , Winter Park : A senior two seasons , this junior will aim for a state meet . summer he competed at the U.S . Amateur cornerback , Pouncey had eight inter - state title this season . Championship . ceptions last year , including three he G I R L S C R O S S returned for touchdowns . He will continue Abby Gibbons , Oviedo : Gibbons , a se - C O U N T R Y Joseph Padgin , Lake Nona : Padgin , a his career at Texas . nior who has placed second in the 100 Kendyl Cartwell , Montverde Academy : junior , claimed his second Metro Con - butterfly at the Class 4A state meet Cartwell , a junior , finished second at ference title last year and finished fourth Demorie Tate , Freedom : A dangerous three years in a row , also took fourth in districts last year and went on to take at the Class 3A state tournament . This offensive player at wide receiver or run - the 50 free and was part of two sec - ninth at the Class 2A state meet . summer the Florida commit reached the ning back , this 6 - foot - 1 , 180 - pound senior ond - place relays last year . She is com - semifinals of the U.S . Junior Amateur . is even better at cornerback , the position mitted to Auburn . Ariana Jimenez , Apopka : A senior , he will play at Florida State next year . Jimenez placed 10th at regions with a G I R L S G O L F G I R L S V O L L E Y B A L L PR of 19 : 10.74 and went on to finish 17th Lauren Clark , Freedom : Clark , a junior , B O Y S S W I M M I N G Taylor Head , Windermere : Head , an at the Class 4A state meet . earned her second consecutive district Mason Herbet , Oviedo : Herbet , a outside hitter and Arkansas recruit , led title last year and also won a region senior , helped the Lions win the Class B O Y S B O W L I N G West Orange in kills and aces last year . crown before finishing 17th at Class 3A 4A state title last year , as he tied for Ben Bailey , Apopka : Bailey , a senior , After transferring to Windermere , she states . fourth in the 100 butterfly and placed was the runner - up at the state tourna - enters her senior season 26 kills away fifth in the 100 breaststroke . ment and averaged 212 during the regular Emily Staples , Freedom : This senior from 1,000 for her career . season . placed 10th at Class 3A states with a Touma Mack , Olympia : A senior , Mack Cierra Jenkins , Lake Highland : A 73 - 74 - 147 after tying for first at districts helped the Olympia 200 free relay set a G I R L S B O W L I N G senior setter who has been a key player and adding a third - place finish at re - school record and finish fourth at the Isabella Pohl , East River : Pohl’s for Lake Highland since she was in gionals . Class 4A state meet . He also took sixth superb sophomore season was high - eighth grade , Jenkins was named an in the 50 free . lighted by a runner - up finish at the Ariel Yu , The First Academy : The Class All - American at AAU Nationals this sum - state tournament . 1A state champion in 2017 , Yu took ninth Luke Uttley , Trinity Prep : Uttley , a mer . She is committed to Brown . ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM september 2019 ORLANDO FAMILY 33