OFM_FallStudentAthletes_0921 - FINAL - SWEST_OFM 8 / 24 / 21 11 : 50 AM Page 2 S T A R S T U D E N T A T H L E T E S DEMARIO TOLAN , DR . PHILLIPS FOOTBALL A senior transfer from Tohopekaliga , this athletic and instinctual linebacker can make plays all over the field . He hopes to lead his new team to a state championship before continuing his career in the SEC at national power LSU . ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE : I know Miami was one of the schools OFM : I’m sure you’ve had your senior year circled you strongly considered , which is where Ray for a while now . What are your expectations Lewis and Ed Reed went to school . Why did heading into the season ? you ultimately pick LSU ? DEMARIO TOLAN : I really feel like we can DT : First off , LSU is a dream school . I always get to the state championship and that’s what I’m looked up to LSU and wanted to go there . They focused on right now . I want to come out and brought me in as a family [ member ] and didn’t about every - cause a lot of turnovers and things like that . try to fake anything ; they were real thing . I felt like I was at home whenever I was there . How does it feel to be with a new OFM : team and a new school ? DT : It feels way better than where I was because What is Coach O [ Ed Orgeron ] like ? OFM : DT : Coach O is actually a pretty funny guy . You I’m getting pushed now and it’s helping me to be would think from his voice that he’s always seri - a better player and also a better man . I knew a ous , but he cracks jokes a lot . couple guys from training but that’s about it . It was a good welcome from the team and they did feel like family . Do you know what you want to study OFM : a great job of making me in college ? Are there certain linebackers or DT : I want to go on the business side but I’m OFM : safeties you’ve tried to model your game not really sure what I want to do yet . Maybe ac - after ? counting or finance or something like that . OFM : DT : It used to be Kam Chancellor and Ed Reed Is the ultimate goal for you to play What else do you like to do when [ as safeties ] and Ray Lewis from a linebacker on Sundays ? OFM : DT : Yes sir , I’ve always had the dream of going you’re not playing football ? standpoint . My first number was 52 because I DT : I really hang around my family and my to the NFL . It used to be the NFL and the NBA , but loved watching Ray Lewis and the Baltimore brothers and also my girlfriend . We all hang out all I really started taking football seriously junior year Ravens were my favorite team . Then I used to the time . I also like volunteering and helping out and I stopped playing [ basketball ] at the end of see Ed Reed a lot too . round the community . a junior year . YOKO TAI , WINDERMERE PREP GOLF A native of Singapore , Tai started playing golf at a young age and has thrived in the sport since coming to Florida for her education . She placed third in the state in 1A last year and finished 17th at the U.S . Girls Junior Championship in July . ORLANDO FAMILY MAGAZINE : brought my older brother into it and then I got Did you spend a lot of time on the golf brought into it . My brother is going to play college course this summer ? golf at Georgia Tech in January . He’s pretty good — YOKO TAI : Yes , I did . I played in eight tourna - better than me , for sure . ments and the [ U.S . Junior ] was my biggest one . How long did you live in Singapore ? That was very fun for me because it was my first OFM : YT : I was there until the age of 6 or 7 years old , time qualifying and playing in that specific event . and then I lived in Shanghai for a little bit . I It’s probably the biggest stage for girls ’ junior golf , moved to Orlando when I was 11 . because it’s 150 players and less than half make it to match play . To make it to the round of 32 , I Have you enjoyed experiencing dif - OFM : was pretty happy with that . Obviously , I would ferent countries and cultures ? have liked to have gone further , but for my first YT : Yes . I’ve definitely learned a lot from it and time I was proud of where I finished . it’s a unique experience . It’s not an experience a What are your goals for the high lot of people get to have so I’m very grateful to OFM : school season ? have that at such a young age . … Once COVID is YT : Obviously , I would love to win states individ - over and the travel restrictions are over , I plan to ually and as a team . But for me , it’s more about go back to Singapore because that’s where my universities for golf . You might not think the Ivy having fun . That’s the same mindset I had last parents live . League is necessarily big in competitive golf , but I year and I finished pretty well . That’s the mindset I know with her in the coaching position she can Do you know what you’re doing for bring into every single tournament ; I try not to OFM : definitely push me and the team to do better in college ? stress out too much about how well I place and golf and academics . The university itself is won - YT : I committed to Columbia University just a how well I play . derful and the history behind the school is incred - few days ago and I’m going to play golf and study ible . It has a lot of great alumni and it has pro - It seems like golf is really big in your there.The coach [ Amy Weeks ] and I have a great OFM : duced a lot of success , so I know I’ll be set for family . Is that how you got started ? relationship ; she’s a golfer herself and has a great whatever I want to do in the future , whether I be - YT : My whole family plays golf . My dad started background , especially in college golf . She played come a professional golfer or choose a different career path . playing first and then he taught my mom . They for Oklahoma State and that is one of the top S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | O R L A N D O F A M I L Y M A G A Z I N E . C O M 25